Salihu Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman for the Northwest of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has criticized President Bola Tinubu for being inaccessible, claiming that the late General Sani Abacha was more approachable.
Lukman made this comparison and called for new strategies to challenge the APC’s dominance in the 2027 elections. He believes Nigeria is currently in a serious crisis, describing its democracy as being in the “Intensive Care Unit” (ICU).
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, in Abuja, Lukman reacted to media reports about a recent meeting in Minna, Niger State, involving former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, as well as retired General Aliyu Gusau.
He noted, “More than at any other time in Nigeria’s history, citizens are facing severe poverty. Since President Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, the situation has been getting worse. One would expect that a democratic government would be more open and accessible.”
Lukman criticized President Tinubu, saying, “He is proving to be the most inaccessible leader Nigeria has ever had. Even General Sani Abacha was more accessible. Previous military governments were more open to consultations and feedback from the public than President Tinubu’s administration.”
He also highlighted issues with the current administration, stating, “Key projects from the previous government, like the Kaduna-Abuja Road, are being neglected and becoming dangerous. At the same time, a new project, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, costing over N15 trillion, has started without proper budgetary provision.”
Lukman expressed concern that efforts to tackle insecurity have been ineffective, describing the response as “business-as-usual” and merely a “ceremonial show of shame and public lamentations by leaders.”
