• ‘Why S’West economy may collapse’
• NNPP chair warns Tinubu over Kano emirate crisis
Immediate past National Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governors Peter Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Rotimi Amaechi to team up to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
In a statement released in Abuja, yesterday, Lukman also listed in the proposed merger, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former governors Nasir el-Rufai, Rauf Aregbesola, Kayode Fayemi and Ibikunle Amosun, among other political leaders.
The former Director General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), also warned of the impending collapse of the economy of the South West geopolitical zone due to the neglect of the ideals of Obafemi Awolowo.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State, Hashimu Dungurawa, cautioned President Bola Tinubu that his stance on the Kano emirate crises will affect his re-election bid in 2027.
Lukman, in the statement entitled ‘Future of Democracy in Nigeria’, said building the kind of united front capable of moving Nigeria’s democracy forward “requires selflessness” on the part of political leaders.
While lamenting the current situation of the country, he decried a situation where APC promised to provide the needed leadership to fight corruption but indulged in higher level of corruption and legitimised ‘state capture’ virtually at all levels.
The statement reads, “What is the future of democracy in Nigeria? Is there any prospect that it can produce leaders who are responsive to national challenges? Being responsive is basically about ensuring that public expenditures are oriented to tackle challenges facing citizens.’’
“What are the challenges facing Nigerians today? Poverty, unemployment, insecurity, drugs and substance abuse, millions of out-of-school children in the North, etc. Not to talk of the additional problems of inflation and the crash of the value of incomes, especially in the last one year under Tinubu.”
He accused Tinubu of deviating from any credential of being an Awoist by putting in place policies that would lead to the impending catastrophe.
Justifying his claim, he said: “Given how he has mismanaged what could have earned him a legendary status as a leader who courageously ended the corrupt racketeering of petroleum subsidy, and unable to humbly find a way out of what has now become a national tragedy producing endless downward swing in the living conditions of Nigerians, the gap between him and Awolowo is the contrast between darkness and sunlight.
Awolowo wouldn’t have contemplated declaring an end to petroleum subsidy in Nigeria without any plan. He wouldn’t have floated the exchange of the naira against other international currencies without a plan on how to develop local industries and boost local production as a remedy of the current highly import dependent economy.”
DUNGURAWA, while speaking with newsmen in his Lugard House office, yesterday, noted that the ongoing emirate crisis was already giving the President bad names.
“Your perceived stance on the ongoing Kano emirate tussle would surely work against you in the 2027 presidential polls because if you think you can use it to secure grounds in Kano, when the chips are down, it will dawn on you that you have made costly mistakes,” he said.
To this end, he appealed to the President to apply wisdom to end the debacle by ensuring that the deposed emir is banished from Kano.
He hinted that his party would still field Kwankwaso as the presidential candidate in 2027.
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