Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state has accused President Boa Ahmed Tinubu of deploying state apparatus to silent opposition in the country. The president, he said, is suing both the carrot and stick to ensure that those who oppose his government are lured into the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The former governor spoke in Kano on Wednesday, stressing that President Tinubu and his party are poised to “destroy democracy” in the country.
The former minister and PDP chieftain said he’s prepared to join any coalition of political forces in the country to stop President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Recall that Lamido was among opposition leaders in the country who recently attended the coalition of political forces under the African Democratic Congress, ADC , whose aim is to dislodge President Tinubu from power in the next election.
According to him, President Tinubu in his quest to assert itself and crush the oppoision has deployed tools such as “ intimidation, blackmail, harassment”, stressing that the act endangers democracy.
He said those rushing to join the APC are doing so because they want to escape the onslaught of the ruling party, adding that once they do so “their sins” are forgiven, even those who are known to be facing corruption charges.
“Today, Tinubu is using state institutions to crush the opposition through intimidation, blackmail, harassment, and government patronage
“It is just like what an APC stalwart once said, no matter your crime, once you join the APC, you will be forgiven. That is why people who feel guilty are joining the APC. This is a serious danger to our democracy.”
Lamido stressed that the administration has abandoned its duties of tackling security and economic challenges facing the country, concentrating on its effort to properly silent dissent.
The administration has also embarked on divisive tendencies in order to perpetuate itself in power, Lamido said, noting that
many Nigerians are now left in fear because of the lack of love in the polity. Nothing is currently working in the country, the former governor said, adding that once the coalition is about changing the state of the country, he is a member.
He said, “People are now asking what to do. Because of the panic, there are talks about forming coalitions. But I have said it before, the coalition we had in 2014 was organic.
“Today, the proposed coalition is just a gathering of individuals. The Labour Party, PDP, and others are not uniting as political institutions but as individuals like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, and others. That is why I am not part of it.
“For me, any coalition must define clear parameters. Why are we coming together? It should be for democracy, unity, stability, security, and prosperity.
“These should be the guiding principles, not personal ambition, vengeance or revenge.
“I remain in the PDP. Yes, PDP has its problems, but I cannot walk out of my skin and take on a new identity like joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC). I have a history. I have been a PDP faithful. It is the PDP that made me a minister and governor. I was detained, harassed, blackmailed, and my office and house were nearly destroyed because of my loyalty to PDP.
“Therefore, I cannot renounce my legacy and join something new. I am PDP. I will support any arrangement within or led by the PDP that seeks to secure Nigeria in 2027, but certainly not anything involving Tinubu or the AP
“I believe in Nigeria. So any arrangements, be it within or outside the Peoples Democratic Party, that will secure and save Nigeria, I am ready to work with it in 2027.
“I believe in Nigeria. So any arrangements, be it within or outside the Peoples Democratic Party, that will secure and save Nigeria, I am ready to work with it in 2027.
On the demand for additional states in the country, the former governor said that though the agitation is legitimate, the creation of states would not solve the multifaceted challenges bedeviling the country.
“My question is: will, the creation of new states solve our problems – insecurity, poverty, hunger and division between the North and the South? There are more pressing issues than creating additional states,” Lamido said.
The former minister had recently joined opposition leaders in the country such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El Rufai, amongst others in their avowed quest to stop President Tinubu from returning to power in the next presidential election.
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