Salihu Lukman, former APC Vice Chairman, calls on ex-military leaders Obasanjo, Babangida, and Gusau to intervene against President Tinubu and the APC ahead of the 2027 elections, highlighting Nigeria’s deepening political crisis.
At a recent high-profile meeting in Minna, former Nigerian military generals, including Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), and Aliyu Gusau, reportedly gathered to discuss the state of the nation. In reaction to this meeting, Salihu Lukman, the former National Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on these military veterans to develop strategies to remove President Bola Tinubu and the APC from power in 2027.
Lukman, who issued a statement from Abuja on Tuesday, strongly criticized President Tinubu’s governance, describing him as inaccessible and warning that Nigeria’s democracy is in “intensive care.” Drawing a bold comparison, he stated that even the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, was more approachable than Tinubu.
“More than at any time in Nigeria’s history, citizens are being impoverished on an alarming scale. Since May 29, 2023, when President Asiwaju took over, Nigerians have faced a downward spiral. The expectation under a democratic government would have been for President Tinubu to be more accessible. However, he has proven to be the most inaccessible leader Nigeria has ever had,” Lukman stated.
Lukman urged Obasanjo, IBB, and Gusau to intervene and prevent the continuation of APC’s leadership beyond 2027. According to him, the actions of the current administration are endangering Nigeria’s democratic framework. He argued that these ex-military leaders possess the wisdom and experience to help guide the nation out of its current crisis.
A Nation in Crisis Lukman’s criticisms did not stop at accessibility issues. He pointed out the government’s neglect of critical infrastructure projects, particularly the Kaduna-Abuja Road, which has become a death trap due to lack of maintenance. He expressed disbelief that, instead of focusing on existing projects, the administration launched a new N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project without sufficient budgetary provisions.
He also called attention to the government’s inadequate response to insecurity, labeling it as a “ceremonial show of shame.” Lukman highlighted the paradox of former military governments being more consultative and open to recommendations than Tinubu’s current democratic administration.
Call for Military Intervention The former APC vice chairman made it clear that he does not believe the current National Working Committee (NWC) of the party should remain in power indefinitely. However, he warned that without the intervention of leaders like Obasanjo, IBB, and Gusau, Nigeria’s political landscape could continue to deteriorate under the APC’s rule.
“The time has come for us to acknowledge that the country’s democracy is on life support. If nothing is done, we could see more of the same in 2027, and Nigerians will once again face the harsh realities of ineffective governance,” Lukman added.
His plea for the former military generals to strategize against Tinubu reflects growing dissatisfaction within Nigeria’s political elite, especially as the 2027 elections loom on the horizon.