My Problem With Tinubu- APC Chieftain, Lukman

Salihu Lukman, a former Vice National Chairman (North-west) of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has denied having any problem with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

His criticism of the administration and his party, he said, is for the entrenchment of democracy in the country.

The APC chieftain disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the country made a good choice by electing President Tinubu.

According to the former member of the party’s NWC, President Tinubu is the best among the aspirants who vied to lead this country in the February 28 Presidential election, noting that Tinubu “is a committed Democrat and truly a progressive politician.”

The politician, a former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, however, stated that he would not stop critcising the administration in other to make it better.

Recall that Lukman had in July this year resigned his position as APC Vice President North-wets after a long battle with the party’s leadership, which he criticized for corruption, and for undemocratic actions.

He even opposed the emergence of Abdullahi Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano state as APC chairman. But that is now in the past as he no longer has any problem with Ganduje, he stated.

Lukman said, “I must say very clearly that I disagreed with President Asiwaju Tinubu’s decision to nominate Dr Ganduje as the National Chairman of APC, but I respect and accept the fact that Dr Ganduje is today the National Chairman.

“I also have strong concerns about the direction taken by the Federal Government under the leadership of President Asiwaju. Under the leadership of Asiwaju Tinubu, we have sadly produced an irritating political reality whereby the North-Central region is marginalised.

I fear that at the rate we are going, with all the low ratings of former President Buhari, if care is not taken, he may turn out to be more progressive.

“We are not, and we will never abandon the campaign for democracy in Nigeria. Whatever is responsible for the current orientation can be surmounted and should be conquered. We will not degrade ourselves to become antagonists of our party and President Asiwaju Tinubu.

“We are confident that our party is blessed with leaders who are capable of initiating processes of reform to return our party to its founding vision of becoming a progressive party.

“We are also confident that President Asiwaju Tinubu is a committed Democrat and truly a progressive politician. We were never wrong in our estimation that out of all the 23 leaders who aspired to become our presidential candidates for the 2023 general elections, he was the best qualified.

“Therefore, as party members and leaders, we must continue to engage him to live up to all the promises we have made to Nigerians since 2015,” he stated.