Salihu Lukman, the immediate past National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, has issued a challenge to the political class.
He urges them to stop lamenting the state of the economy and the security challenges and instead focus on organizing for the upcoming general elections in order to unseat the ruling party.
In a statement titled “Failure of APC,” Lukman emphasized the need for an alternative and credible political party. He expressed disappointment in the subordination of the APC National Secretariat to the Presidency during the eight years of the Buhari administration.
Lukman also highlighted the disconnect between the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration and the national leadership of the ruling party.
Lukman stressed the urgency of establishing a strong party to replace the current administration. He criticized both Buhari and Tinubu for using the APC to win elections without fulfilling the promises outlined in their blueprint.
He emphasized that the development of Nigerian democracy should not be solely dependent on individual leaders, no matter how powerful they may be.
Lukman called on patriotic Nigerians and democrats to mobilize and create an alternative democratic platform to challenge the APC and other registered political parties.
He encouraged them to believe in the power of possibility and the potential to overcome the current leadership of President Asiwaju Tinubu.
Lukman stated that the essence of democracy lies in political contestation. He urged Nigerians to convey a strong message to Tinubu, the APC leadership, and Nigerian politicians, emphasizing the need to transform democracy beyond ceremonial elections.
He criticized the current state of leadership, which he compared to emperors and dictators ruling the country worse than military governments.
The former Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) accused the APC of abandoning its vision and reducing itself to a mere platform for winning elections.
Lukman called on patriotic Nigerians to return to the struggle for democracy and address the failures of the APC over the past nine years.
He questioned how to create a political organizing strategy that goes beyond winning elections or grabbing power.
Lukman emphasized the importance of having a party where the President is subordinated to the party, multiple power blocs exist, and leaders have the capacity to facilitate negotiations and agreements.
He also highlighted the need for a party that can mobilize funds to run its affairs and fund the elections of its candidates at all levels. Lukman proposed aligning the conditions of service for party leaders with public officers at the same level.
Lukman acknowledged that there are many valid questions that need to be answered and emphasized that it is the responsibility of patriotic Nigerians to provide those answers.
He called for a focus on developing a functional political party structure that can address these practical questions.
He cautioned against relying on opportunistic political warriors who have been perennial contestants and aspirants in every election since 1999.
Lukman criticized the Tinubu administration for taking organized labor for granted in their recent discussions over the demand for a new minimum wage. He accused them of not living up to their promise of being worker-friendly.
