A former vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north-west, Mr Salihu Lukman, said the party is now run like a private limited liability firm owned by President Bola Tinubu.
Lukman who made the declaration in a release yesterday said the country’s democracy was in an intensive care unit in a hospital with no doctor to attend to it.
Lukman wondered if Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida, former president and heads of state, are the doctors Nigeria’s democracy needs.
He said the former military regimes are beginning to appear to be more receptive to recommendations than Tinubu’s government.
“As president of the Federal Republic, President Asiwaju Tinubu is showing his worst side,” he said.
“All the so-called big parties don’t hold meetings of their organs. The APC is now more of a private limited liability company owned by President Asiwaju Tinubu. PDP, LP, NNPP and many of the registered parties are all faced with an avoidable leadership crisis that has strangulated them and is blocking them from holding meetings.
“With all these, citizens are denied options and capacity to produce alternative choices. Even the right to register new parties is being blocked seamlessly by INEC. With meetings not holding and opposition political leaders manipulated into terminal crisis, Nigerian democracy is in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with no Doctor to attend to.
“Could former President Obasanjo, former Military President Babangida, former Head of State Abdulsalam and retired General Gusau be the ‘Doctors’ needed to get Nigeria out of the ICU? If so, how can they achieve that?
“Former President Obasanjo, former Military President Babangida, former Head of State Abdulsalam and retired General Gusau are certainly leaders in their own rights who have paid their dues. At different times in the political history of Nigeria, they were able to intervene.
“Arguably, their interventions may have in one way or the other contributed to getting Nigeria to its current messy situation.
“To the extent of contributing to get Nigeria to the current messy situation, these leaders owe a responsibility to the nation to take it out of the ICU.”
Lukman said Nigerians need to come together to build a structure that would defeat Tinubu in 2027.
Similarly, the former vice president, Mr Atiku Abubakar said the APC-led government had plunged the country into an avoidable economic crisis.
Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2023, stated this on his X handle on Wednesday.
In the statement entitled ‘The clear choice for a prosperous Edo State’, Atiku warned Edo citizens against voting for the APC in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
He advised Edo voters to opt for change, adding that APC had forsaken the ideals of governance, ignoring the cries of the common man.
“As the good citizens of Edo State prepare to make their voices heard this Saturday, the 21st of September, 2024, let us reflect on the immense power within our grasp.
“The power to break free from the chains of bad governance, the power to chart a new course for our beloved state, that power lies in your vote, a precious tool for change.
“The APC has donned the mask of a friend to the masses, but behind this veil lies a sinister reality. They have lured gullible voters with sweet promises, only to reveal their true nature— a party driven by a hunger for power rather than the well-being of the people.
“They have forsaken the ideals of governance, ignoring the cries of the common man while pursuing their own selfish ambitions. Under their watch, Nigeria has been plunged into an abyss of suffering.
“They have sown seeds of poverty, despair, and insecurity. The once vibrant spirit of our nation has been dimmed by a relentless struggle for survival, where even the simplest of needs, like food, have become out of reach for millions.
“In this grim reality, our people are not dying of disease but of hunger. We stand at the lowest point in our nation’s governance. The APC has not served the people; they have served themselves.
“And when the people, rightfully aggrieved, have raised their voices in protest, they have been silenced, dragged to courts under charges of treason. Meanwhile, the APC’s leaders bask in luxury, indifferent to the hardship that grips the nation.
“But there is hope. In this dark landscape, Dr. Asue Ighodalo shines as a beacon of integrity and vision. His candidacy offers a path to redemption for Edo State. Where the APC has faltered, Ighodalo stands firm, ready to serve with competence and a genuine commitment to the people’s welfare.
“People of Edo State, the time has come to use the power vested in you. As you go to the polls, ask yourself: Has the APC made your life better, or have they only deepened your struggles? The answer is clear.
“Your vote for Ighodalo will not only bring change to Edo State but will also send a resounding message across Nigeria that we reject the deceit and self-serving ways of the APC.
“For nearly a decade, the APC has betrayed the people. They criticized past leaders for raising fuel prices, yet today, they preside over an era where fuel costs soar above N900 per litre. Their cruelty and disregard for the plight of the masses are unmatched.
“A vote for the APC is a vote for the continuation of misery, hunger, and despair. Open your eyes, Edo State. Do not be swayed by the empty promises of the APC. Electing Dr. Asue Ighodalo of the PDP is not just a vote; it is an act of reclaiming our future.
“It is a choice to consolidate the good work of Governor Godwin Obaseki and to build a future of prosperity, dignity, and hope. Let us march to the polls this Saturday, united in our resolve to bring about the change we so desperately need.
“Let us cast our votes for Asue Ighodalo and usher in a new dawn for Edo State. The power is yours. Use it wisely,” he said.
