Lukman says APC has derailed from its founding democratic ideals
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman (North West), Salihu Lukman, has accused the party of having derailed from its founding democratic ideals, now functions like a monarchy, and hoists Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s king.
Lukman resigned from the APC citing “betrayal of democratic values”, and in an interview on Arise Television this week, reflected on the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the power dynamics in the APC, and the future of political coalitions in Nigeria.
He paid tribute to Buhari, acknowledging his contribution to federal politics, but explained that his biggest strength was also his greatest weakness.
“The paradox of the late President Buhari is that his weakness is his strength. His weakness is that he had this non-interventionist attitude, where he tolerated almost everything around him.
And that appeared to be his strength… but that became the bigger challenge,” he said.
Lukman argued that Buhari’s accommodating nature ultimately undermined effective leadership and party development.
“While President Buhari was alive, we were unable to use the freedom he has given all leaders to develop the party. Instead, what happened is that the party was sacrificed.
APC abandons internal democracy, functions only to serve the interests of a few, says Lukman
“APC has crashed from a party with a lot of promise to almost a party that is more or less serving its organ, and more or less serving like a midwife.
“When a party reduces itself to almost like a kind of cheerleader, singing praises of elected representatives… we can as well just have a monarchy.”
APC party organs dormant, ineffective, with decisions made without consultation or debate
“Most [APC] state governments don’t hold executive council meetings. The party organs don’t function.”
Ganduje’s resignation as APC National Chair inevitable
“Once you undermine agreement within the party … you make yourself vulnerable,” he said, referring to Abdullahi Ganduje’s alleged role in weakening internal party structures.
Building a new political coalition [ADC] that avoids the pitfalls of the past
“We don’t have somebody with the kind of intimidating profile as that of the late President Buhari in the coalition
“All the leaders of the coalition need to be humble and acknowledge that they need one another.
“It’s not about succeeding to just defeat APC and President [Tinubu], but succeeding to produce a new, fresh political template that will begin to meet the expectation of Nigerians.”
Lukman stressed the need in the ADC for collective leadership, internal democracy, and accountability, traits he believes the APC has lacked in recent years.
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