ASO Rock SHAKES: Tension In Abuja As EX- APC Chieftain Calls For Tinubu’s Impeachment; SEE Details
Former National Vice Chairman, Northwest, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Moh. Lukman, has raised serious concerns about the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and several state governors, amid growing discontent and protests across Nigeria.
Lukman, a prominent figure within the APC, has criticized the federal and state governments’ response to the ongoing protests, describing the situation as grounds for possible impeachment of President Tinubu and others in power.
The protests, which have erupted nationwide, stem from widespread frustration over hunger, economic hardships, and what many see as poor governance. Lukman pointed out that these protests are a direct response to the failure of the government to address the basic needs of its citizens.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, he expressed concern over how the Tinubu administration has handled the protests, noting that the government’ s approach has been inadequate and has only fueled further unrest.
According to Lukman, there is now information circulating that the organizers of the protests are planning to resume their activities on October 1, signaling the depth of dissatisfaction among Nigerians. He criticized the government’ s attempts to discredit the protests by suggesting that they are being sponsored by opposition parties, arguing that such claims should be ignored.
Lukman emphasized that in a democratic society, it is entirely legitimate for opposition parties to work towards defeating a ruling party, especially when the government fails to justify the confidence placed in it by the electorate.
He argued that if Nigeria’ s democratic institutions, such as political parties and the National Assembly, were functioning properly, the current situation would warrant the impeachment of President Tinubu and several state governors.
He lamented the current state of the National Assembly, describing it as a ” rubber stamp” institution, and criticized the political parties in Nigeria for being ineffective. According to Lukman, the failure of these institutions has left Nigerians feeling frustrated and desperate, leading them to express their anger through protests.
Lukman identified the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira against other currencies as the triggers for the current economic crisis in Nigeria. He argued that in an economy heavily dependent on imports, these policies were bound to create inflationary pressures. Despite this, he noted that the government has yet to provide any clear policy responses to address the resulting hardships.
He criticized the government’ s call for patience from citizens, pointing out that there has been no indication of how long the difficult conditions will persist. Meanwhile, he highlighted that many Nigerians are struggling to survive, facing hunger and preventable diseases, with some losing their lives as a result.
While acknowledging that the economy had been mismanaged by previous administrations, Lukman stressed that the current government, having been elected, has a responsibility to be more responsive to the needs of its citizens. He called on the government to show compassion and to consider easing some of the harsh policies that are causing widespread suffering.
Lukman did not hold back in his criticism of Nigeria’ s elected leaders, accusing them of behaving like ” colonial overlords” who see themselves as conquerors rather than public servants. He argued that this mindset has led to the demobilization of political structures across the country, leaving Nigeria with a democracy that lacks functional political parties.
