A former Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, Salihu Lukman, has accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of managing Nigeria’s affairs like a military dictator.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Lukman lamented that the level of poverty, insecurity, hunger, and high cost of goods and services in the country showed that APC and its leaders had shortchanged Nigerians.
He warned that the country’s current security and socio-economic challenges would work against Tinubu’s second-term bid if not quickly addressed.
Lukman pointed out that former President Muhammadu Buhari and Tinubu had rubbished the essence of the 2013 merger that produced APC and the party’s manifesto by inflicting pains on Nigerians.
His words: “What Nigerians are having today wasn’t what was promised at all. The most disturbing reality is that the current economic hardship was produced during the first term of President Asiwaju Tinubu, with no end in sight.
Does it then mean that President Asiwaju Tinubu is not interested in a second term? Certainly not.
“If he is interested in a second term, why is he managing affairs of government like a military dictator, shutting down the structures of the party, and talking down to citizens like a philosopher king who has absolute knowledge of what will produce possible happiness for citizens?
“Unless the objective is to secure a second term by other means and not votes of the electorate, there cannot be any logical reasoning.
“Could that be the reason for the newfound love with some identified political mercenaries who were strongly opposed to the election of President Asiwaju Tinubu? How successful could they be?”
For sure, he is planning second term not by ballot box but by other means – by civilian coup etc.
This one is a “bloody civilian” with an autocratic style of leadership. The opposite of Goodluck Ebile Jonathan who adopted a laissez-faire style of leadership. Actually, no particular style of leadership is perfect or good. But an autocratic in a democratic setting is unacceptable. Why do we reject military rules? We should not have military rule in a civilian clothes. Even Obasanjo and Buhari who were military retired generals did better in a democratic setting. We complained of their excesses because of their military background but they were not this terrible. Why was Buhari unable to remove fuel subsidy? He played the game by the rule in this area.