Salihu Lukman Sheds Light On Bola Tinubu’s Democratic Background

Former Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, sheds light on President Bola Tinubu’s seamless emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

Lukman claims that Tinubu’s democratic background was key to winning the APC presidential primary.

He accuses Tinubu of isolating himself from the party’s founders but remains committed to advocating for good governance and political party reform in Nigeria

Lukman, in a piece titled, “Why Political Parties in Nigeria Should be Reformed” clarified that Tinubu’s antecedents as a true democrat gave him the edge over his rivals in the presidential primary of the party held in Abuja.

He said the public presentation of his book titled: “APC and Transition Politics”, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on December 19, this year was part of the measures to achieve the goal.

He clarified that the book aims to ensure that elected governments and leaders are accountable and responsive to the citizens’ needs.

He said: “Here we are as a party, just coming out of the election and very lucky to have President Bola  Tinubu as the leader of the party, who was part of the pro-democracy struggle to bring an end to military rule in the country in 1999

“My layperson, or innocent person, the expectation was that if under former President Muhammadu Buhari we were confused or unable to achieve the vision of making APC a truly progressive party, under President Tinubu, we should have no difficulty in achieving that. Somehow, it would appear politics has taken over everything and business-as-usual has become the orientation.

“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 becoming antagonists of our party and President Asiwaju Tinubu.”

He expressed confidence in the party, believing it has leaders capable of initiating reforms to align with its founding vision of being a progressive party.

“We are also confident that President 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 best qualified

“Therefore, as party members and leaders, we must continue to engage him to live up to all the promises we made to Nigerians since 2015. We must work hard and make all the necessary sacrifices to ensure that both President Tinubu and the APC succeed in moving Nigerian democracy forward,” he said

Kanyi Daily recalls that Salihu Lukman slammed Bola Tinubu for making excuses about the current hardship in the country.