Salih Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has raised concerns over the deteriorating state of governance in Nigeria, stating that each successive administration has been worse than its predecessor.
In a statement on Monday, Lukman criticised the current government under President Bola Tinubu, and expressed fears that it may surpass the perceived failures of the previous administrations led by President Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan.
Lukman lamented that despite these challenges, there is no structured engagement or cohesive strategy among leading opposition figures—such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)—to mobilise against the APC in the 2027 elections.
“It is not enough to complain that President Asiwaju Tinubu is bad without corresponding initiative to ensure that 2027 results in the defeat of APC at all levels.
“If APC is defeated in 2027, what is the guarantee that the new government to emerge post President Asiwaju Tinubu will not be worse?
“As Nigerians, we are witnesses of how governments at all levels progressively become worse. With all the confidence many of us had in former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguably his performance failed to meet public expectations, perhaps worse than former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Certainly, President Asiwaju Tinubu is on track of becoming worse than former President Buhari”, he stated.
While reflecting on the past, Lukman expressed disappointment in the performance of the Buhari administration, which he claimed failed to meet public expectations, and warned that the Tinubu administration is on a similar trajectory. He urged opposition leaders to overcome their current divisions and unite in order to present a credible alternative in 2027.
Lukman pointed out that although there are ongoing discussions about the 2027 elections, the conversations have not yet evolved into structured political engagements within the existing opposition parties.
He criticised the opposition parties for what he described as a lack of seriousness and internal strife, which he said has left them unable to effectively challenge the current administration.
He further accused other political parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), of adopting a passive approach, and waiting for discontented opposition leaders to seek their support rather than actively working to build a united front.
Lukman however warned that the lack of a strong and united opposition has emboldened President Tinubu and the APC, leading to what he described as “insensitive and reckless decisions” that have exacerbated the hardships faced by Nigerians.
He called on opposition leaders to move beyond mere press statements and take definitive action to change the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Acknowledging that there are isolated ongoing discussions about what needs to be done in 2027, it is very worrisome that those discussions are yet to graduate to structured political engagements on the platforms of any of the existing opposition political parties.
“Unfortunately, if anything, it is almost a case that all the existing registered political parties are decidedly in support of President Tinubu and to that extent therefore working covertly for his second term victory in 2027.
“So far, arguably, none of the parties, which ordinarily should be leading the opposition to President Tinubu’s government, is making any effort to recruit and unite opposition political leaders in the country.
“Instead, all the leading opposition political parties are embroiled in some embarrassing internal crisis, which has pitched leaders of the parties against each other.
“It is quite appalling, for instance, that PDP leaders are antagonistic to Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi is in the midst of a helpless survival leadership battle in LP and Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is oversighting a directionless NNPP whose roof is being torn apart by none other than its own so-called leaders.
“And all the other parties, including SDP and PRP have adopted a monarchical behaviour, sitting in their comfort zones waiting for disgruntled and aggrieved opposition political leaders to come to them for some ‘royal’ covers.
“Perhaps, it could also be a case of waiting to harvest good political businesses through dealmaking in 2027, which is the standard political practice in Nigeria since the commencement of the current Fourth Republic.
“All these have contributed to embolden President Asiwaju Tinubu and his APC. Insensitive and reckless decisions, which further worsen citizens’ conditions of living, are being taken on a daily basis.
“On a scale never imagined in the country, Nigerians across all divides are living in agony on account of harsh living realities created by avoidable circumstances due to reckless policy decisions of the government.
“And with hardly any sense of humility or remorse, President Tinubu and people in government audaciously continue to ask Nigerians to be patient while the government continues to indulge in some illogical luxurious public expenditure without recourse to due processes.
“Yet, all that opposition leaders could do is to issue individual press statements. This is quite unacceptable”, he stated.