Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Northwest, has called on former President Olusegun Obasanjo to rally together other past Nigerian leaders in forming a united political front to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the APC in the 2027 general elections.
Lukman’s plea follows Obasanjo’s recent comments in a December 8 newspaper interview, where he was quoted saying, “A leader made by Satan is bound to fail, while God’s chosen one will thrive.”
Lukman argues that to ensure Nigeria produces godly leaders free from what he terms “satanic genotypes,” Obasanjo and other past leaders, including Generals Yakubu Gowon, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, have a moral responsibility to unite the opposition and form a new, functional political party.
In his open letter to Obasanjo, Lukman emphasized the urgency of such efforts, stating, “It is not enough to lament the presence of Satanic leadership in the country. Unless past leaders like you assert their moral authority, we risk perpetuating the current cycle of failed leadership under President Tinubu.”
He further warned that as long as Nigerian politics remains fragmented and reduced to serving personal ambitions, the country would continue to be led by leaders with questionable motives, whether they emerge from new or existing parties.
Lukman reflected on the potential of the APC in 2015, suggesting it was ultimately undermined by internal divisions and impunity.
Lukman pointed out the risks of the opposition’s fragmented efforts, citing resistance from some opposition leaders who are focused on their personal ambitions, hindering the formation of a cohesive and strategic political force.
He also noted the emergence of regional and ethnic divides, along with the involvement of influential figures allegedly financing such divisions, as signs of a growing threat to genuine political reform.
Lukman concluded that any political leader who resists collaboration with others in the opposition is unwittingly aiding the APC’s chances of victory in the upcoming election.
He stressed that those seeking power at all costs, without regard for the country’s future, were contributing to a political system dominated by “Satanic” leaders.
Having distanced himself from the APC following the 2023 elections, Lukman remained firm in his belief that the party’s strategy revolves around maintaining divisions within the opposition.
He urged Obasanjo and other former leaders to act quickly to unite the opposition and foster a viable political alternative for Nigeria in 2027.
