A former National Vice Chairman North-west of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has called on the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, to align himself with the vision of President Bola Tinubu to develop Nigerian democracy or he should resign his position.
Lukman, in a letter dated April 2, 2024, addressed to Ganduje and leaked to the press on Thursday in Kaduna, said he was convinced that Ganduje’s leadership is the direct opposite of the vision of Tinubu.
He said having emerged as the National Chairman against every rational consideration, his expectation was that Ganduje would justify his emergence by ensuring that he restores constitutional order in the party.
Lukman said sadly it has been business as usual, adding that eight months under Ganduje’s leadership, no National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting has been held, which is supposed to be at least once every quarter.
He also lamented that the obligation of presenting quarterly financial reports on income and expenditure of the party is not respected.
Lukman added: “Without annual national budgets, the party has failed to establish a clearly defined funding framework. Consequently, the NWC and its members, including yourself, are being reduced to beggars, at the mercy of elected representatives.
“With all that has taken place since your emergence as the APC National Chairman, it is very easy to conclude that you have simply repeated and deepened all the mistakes of past APC leadership.”
Lukman pointed out that in the North-West where Ganduje comes from, party organisation has been weakened under his leadership in virtually all states.
According to him, “Under your watch, you are unable to regulate the excessive conduct of some leaders. Consequently, leadership crisis is snowballing in many states with hardly any visible indication of efforts from your leadership to intervene and resolve the issues.”
Lukman emphasised that with what is going on now especially with the way Tinubu dumped the APC in Ganduje’s hands after the resignation of Sen. Abdulahi Adamu, they cannot but question Tinubu’s vision for the party.
“I am convinced that your leadership is the direct opposite of the vision of President Asiwaju Tinubu. That being the case, it is either you adjust and align yourself with the vision of President Asiwaju Tinubu to develop Nigerian democracy based on which our party emerged as a modelled progressive party, which is functional in line with provisions of the APC Constitution, or you simply take the path of honour and vacate the position of National Chairman,” he said.