Salihu Lukman Criticizes Tinubu and Sani's Leadership, Foresees Major Political Shift
The immediate past National Vice Chairman, North-West, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has issued a stern warning to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, predicting that both Sani and President Bola Tinubu will be voted out of office in the next three years.
Lukman criticized the governor for allegedly waging a proxy war against his predecessor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, accusing Sani of acting on behalf of the presidency. The former Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) emphasized that the campaign to unseat the APC and President Tinubu has begun, with significant efforts focused on Kaduna State.
In a letter titled “Issues of Politics and Governance in Kaduna: The Truth,” dated June 13, 2024, and copied to prominent political figures including Malam Nasir El-Rufai and Ramalan Yero, Lukman warned Governor Sani about the consequences of his current actions.
“I am honestly worried for you. You are setting a precedence that will hurt you. All I can say is, be careful. Maximum, in the next seven years, you will be out. You must recognize that without Mallam, it would almost have been impossible for you to rise to where you are today,” Lukman wrote. “The privilege of being a Governor has an expiry date. In your case, if you are lucky, another seven years. But from the way things are unfolding, I believe the default expiry date for your tenure is another three years.”
Lukman accused President Tinubu and Governor Sani of alienating themselves and behaving like autocrats, warning that their actions threaten to undo the democratic gains made in Nigeria over the past 25 years.
Lukman recounted a recent meeting with Sani, which he believed could have corrected the current trajectory, but which he says was reduced to a mere photo opportunity. He lamented the lack of substantive follow-up and criticized the APC for not holding regular meetings, arguing that this undermines the democratic process.
Lukman expressed his determination to mobilize for change, stating, “Unless APC and you, our leaders, embrace change and return to some level of sanity, this will require that we mobilize and get you out of power in 2027 at all levels.”
Lukman also praised El-Rufai's developmental initiatives in Kaduna State and criticized the probe by the House of Assembly, orchestrated by Hon. Ibrahim Zailani, as a proxy fight against El-Rufai. He noted that despite previous animosities, Sani and Zailani have now allied against their former mentor.
“For the records, I am not opposed to probes. But I am opposed to wildcat unplanned probes without clear objectives of what we want to achieve,” Lukman wrote. He emphasized the need for strategic and objective investigations rather than politically motivated actions.
Lukman concluded by acknowledging El-Rufai’s weaknesses, particularly in building strong relationships with local stakeholders, but maintained that the current discord reflects poorly on Governor Sani's leadership over the past year. He suggested that the presidency's opposition to El-Rufai has exacerbated the situation, leading to unnecessary political drama.
The letter underscores the growing tensions within the APC and the challenges facing Governor Sani as he navigates his relationship with his predecessor and other political actors in Kaduna State.
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