Lukman urges Obasanjo, Babangida, and Gusau to help Nigeria out of crisis
Salihu Moh. Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman for the Northwest of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, as well as retired General Aliyu Gusau, to come up with new strategies to challenge the APC’s power in the 2027 elections.
He believes Nigeria is facing a serious crisis, with its democracy in what he describes as the “Intensive Care Unit” (ICU).
Lukman made this call in a statement released on Tuesday, September 17, in Abuja. His comments followed media reports about a recent meeting between the three former leaders in Minna, Niger State.
Reflecting on the National Council of State’s vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu on August 13, 2024, Lukman questioned whether the absence of Obasanjo and Babangida from that meeting was a sign of disagreement with the confidence vote. He also noted that while these leaders played roles in shaping Nigeria’s current situation, they have a responsibility to help the country recover.
Lukman explained that political practices during Obasanjo’s presidency and the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) under Babangida might have contributed to Nigeria’s current challenges. He said, “For instance, the political practices that are responsible for the erosion of political competition in political parties in Nigeria could be traceable to the tenure of former President Obasanjo. The SAP policy under former Military President Babangida might have inspired President Tinubu’s recent policies.”
Lukman stressed the need for these leaders to support the creation of a strong political party that promotes healthy competition and upholds democratic principles. He warned that focusing only on finding a candidate could lead to legal and political complications, potentially undermining the party’s and candidate’s effectiveness.
He also emphasized that a strong political party is essential for ensuring elected leaders honor their campaign promises and remain accountable. “The profile of the party leadership should match or exceed that of the elected leaders,” Lukman said. “A weak party leadership will harm Nigerian democracy and keep it in the ICU.”
Lukman further compared President Tinubu to the late General Sani Abacha, suggesting that Tinubu has been less accessible to the public. “More than anytime in the history of Nigeria, citizens are being impoverished alarmingly. Since President Tinubu took office on May 29, 2023, things have been going downhill. Even General Sani Abacha was more accessible than Tinubu.”
Lukman criticized the current administration for neglecting important projects and failing to effectively address security issues. He cited the abandonment of key projects like the Kaduna-Abuja Road and the initiation of the costly Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway without proper funding as examples of mismanagement.
