Salihu Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman, Northwest of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has sharply criticized the leadership of President Buhari and Bola Tinubu, stating that they have undermined democracy in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Lukman called for the establishment of an alternative platform to challenge the current leadership of the APC, which he described as “extreme right-wing adventurously unplanned.”
He accused Buhari and Tinubu of sidelining party structures and leadership in their governance decisions over the past nine years, leading to a mockery of democracy.
Lukman emphasized the need for Nigerians to question the value of political party affiliation if it only serves to field candidates for elections without meaningful democratic engagement.
He urged patriotic Nigerians to mobilize and create a viable democratic alternative to the APC, stressing the importance of returning power to the people and ensuring leaders are accountable.
Highlighting the crisis of corruption and lack of commitment to social democracy within the APC, Lukman warned of escalating social unrest due to worsening issues of corruption, insecurity, and economic crisis.
He specifically criticized the President’s denial regarding the reintroduction of fuel subsidy through indirect means, cautioning against further fuel price hikes.
Lukman called for a transformation of Nigeria’s democracy beyond ceremonial elections, emphasizing the importance of producing leaders who submit to negotiations and uphold democratic principles.
He said, “We must summon the courage and believe in the power of possibility.
“Just like we succeeded in pushing the military back to the barracks and defeating the PDP in 2015, it is possible to create a politically viable and truly popular democratic alternative platform that can put the APC in its rightful place and overcome the current extreme right-wing adventurously unplanned leadership of President Tinubu.
“Nigerians must be mobilized to rise above dishonest politicians who only manipulate their way to power and reduce citizens to the status of conquered people.
“Democracy will be worthless if the result is only to elect civilian overlords. That can only be checked if we produce a functional political party, with committed leaders who submit themselves to processes of negotiations in all its ramifications, and agreements contracted that are binding and capable of regulating the conducts of elected representatives and governments produced at all levels. Nigerians are not conquered people.”