Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North-West, has called on ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to gather other former leaders in a bid to rescue Nigeria as the nation approaches the next general elections.
In his open letter titled “Satanic Leadership and Nigeria’s Boiling Point,” Lukman expressed deep concerns regarding the lack of collaboration among opposition leaders as they prepare for the 2027 elections. He pointed out that many presidential aspirants are traversing the country independently to garner support, a strategy he believes could inadvertently smooth the path for President Tinubu’s re-election.
“It seems the national sentiment is not inclined towards forming a functional political party,” he lamented. Lukman criticized the fixation on individual candidates, which he argues perpetuates a mindset that allows politicians to impose their choices and manipulate electoral outcomes.
“This has rendered most politicians anything but democratic,” he added. He emphasized that many politicians approach governance with a mentality of conquest rather than as a service to the people, reducing politics to a mere spectacle of cheerleading rather than meaningful engagement.
Lukman highlighted that as long as politics remains a platform for cheerleaders, Nigeria will continue to be governed by leaders lacking integrity. He warned that even with new political parties emerging, they would likely replicate the failings of the current parties, the PDP and APC.
He called for immediate political re-engineering to create a party capable of nurturing leaders with integrity and vision. “I firmly believe that within a short time, we can establish a functional political party that can lead to the emergence of principled leaders,” he stated.
Lukman cautioned, however, that existing divisions among opposition leaders pose a significant risk to this process. He noted that some leaders are resistant to forming a united front due to personal ambitions, which could lead to the old patterns of loyalty and division re-emerging.
He further alleged that the ruling party is fostering discord among opposition ranks as a strategy to ensure electoral victory in 2027. “Any leader who refuses to collaborate with others in the opposition is inadvertently aiding Tinubu’s chances for re-election,” he asserted.
Lukman concluded by warning that unless opposition leaders can set aside their differences and ambitions, Nigeria might find itself facing another set of leaders who are equally uninspired and disconnected from the needs of the populace.
