Former national Vice Chairman, North West, Salihu Lukman has said the ruling All Progressives Congress risks losing next general elections unless there is concerted efforts to mitigate the economic hardship Nigerians are contending with.
Lukman raised the alarm on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of public presentation of his book, “APC and Transition Politics”.
The former Director General of the All Progressives Congress who noted that there is a serious disconnect between those in leadership positions and Nigerians said Nigerians might revolt with their votes against the ruling party in 2027.
He said: “In terms of reforming, democracy is not about just to serve people who are in office now, it is to serve Nigerians. Our democracy must be responsive to the point that Nigerians can make a demand and elected leaders who listen to the demand of Nigerians and translate that into policies of government, or decisions of government in the way that begin to meets the expectations of Nigerians. That is the value of democracy. Once democracy cannot achieve that, then we have a problem.
“And I think we must be honest and this is the point I say to our leaders, without any inhibition. At the moment, our democracy is not responsive enough. And as a party, envisioned to be progressive, it is certainly not yet progressive. And I think I’m worried that our leaders have become very comfortable to imagine that they can do anything and get away with it. We must appeal to our leaders that things are almost getting out of hand at the rate at which we are going under a party that is envisioned to be progressive. We are likely going to start witnessing rebellion and if care is not taken by 2027 we will be kicked out of office, which means taking Nigeria back to where it was in 2015. I think we owe our leader the responsibility or President Asiwaju the responsibility to tell him the honest truth.”
On his forthcoming book presentation, Lukman disclosed that pioneer interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande has agreed to be chairman of the occasion.
Lukman expressed the hope that the book would serve his objective of a wake up call to the party chieftains.
“So having produced the book, my first challenge was to say okay, how do I set up a platform using the book to get our leaders to have some deeper reflection and begin to now come up with strategies to engage both President Asiwaju and all elected leaders produced by the party to really go back to the drawing board and re-adjust in such a way that they see themselves as truly representatives of Nigerians, not emperors presiding over subjects. Nigerians are not the subjects of elected representatives.
“And for me look, the most important thing and I must say publicly Chief Bisi Akande has done everything for me. He did not only write the foreword of the book, he has committed himself to physically be present to chair the session. And I know with Chief Bisi Akande chairing the session every leader of the party will respect it… the former national chairman, Chief Oyegun has agreed I am yet to sit down with Comrade Adams. I’m going to sit down with him and I’m confident and very hopeful he will agree to be there. I’m reaching out to many former presidential aspirant for the 2020 including the former vice president, Professor Yemi Osibanjo.”
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