In recent remarks, Salihu Lukman, an erstwhile National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stirred debate by asserting that the lines between Nigeria’s ruling party, the APC, and its long-standing rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have blurred to the point of similarity.
In a candid interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Lukman minced no words in his assessment, suggesting that the APC, once hailed as a beacon of change, is now exhibiting traits reminiscent of the very party it sought to replace – the PDP.
Lukman’s critique delves deep into the heart of the political landscape, highlighting not only the erosion of internal democracy within the PDP but also the alarming parallels emerging within the ranks of the APC.
He laments the rise of what he terms a “one-man show” culture within the PDP, where internal democracy has been forsaken in favor of imposing candidates upon the electorate. It was precisely this disillusionment that propelled the birth of the APC, according to Lukman.
The genesis of the APC, as Lukman recalls, stemmed from a collective desire among opposition parties to unite forces against the PDP’s dominance and rectify the systemic flaws plaguing Nigerian politics.
“We were clear on the kind of party APC should be,” Lukman asserts, reflecting on the party’s early aspirations. “We saw the weaknesses of the PDP… elected candidates were not accountable… we thought building the APC would depart from that.”
Indeed, the mantra of ‘change’ that echoed throughout the APC’s inception resonated with a promise to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians, focusing on critical sectors such as health, education, and social services. However, Lukman contends that the party has strayed from this path.
He traces the divergence from the party’s original vision to the onset of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, where the concentration of power around the presidency began to mirror the centralized control characteristic of the PDP era.
“We were hoping with Asiwaju (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), things would start changing,” Lukman reveals, expressing disappointment at the perceived stagnation under the current leadership.
“We are having a party where some of its organs have not been convened since its formation,” Lukman laments, underscoring the breakdown of internal mechanisms within the APC. “We are having a party in which, for one year, no meeting has taken place, and that party is controlling the government.”
The disillusionment expressed by Lukman encapsulates a broader sentiment of discontentment among party faithful and the electorate at large. It reflects a disillusionment with the political establishment’s failure to deliver on the promises of reform and progress.
As Nigerians grapple with the ramifications of Lukman’s observations, the discourse surrounding the future of Nigerian politics takes center stage. Will the APC reclaim its mantle as the vanguard of change, or will it succumb to the same pitfalls that befell its predecessor?
Only time will tell. But one thing remains certain: the echoes of Lukman’s critique reverberate as a stark reminder of the enduring quest for accountable, transparent, and responsive governance in Nigeria’s democratic journey.