Salihu Lukman, a former national vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the North-West, has asserted that President Bola Tinubu will be difficult to defeat in the 2027 elections unless the opposition establishes a strong rapport with the Nigerian populace.
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In a recent statement, Lukman acknowledged the considerable challenge facing the opposition, noting that many Nigerians may struggle to trust politicians who promise a brighter future after experiencing disappointment under the APC, which had initially campaigned for change in 2015.
He emphasized that the movement to “rescue Nigeria” must transcend mere sentiment aimed at defeating the APC and President Tinubu.
Instead, it should focus on developing a well-defined vision for the country’s progress.
Lukman questioned the nature of the opposition political platform, suggesting that if it is merely designed to nominate candidates for elections, it will ultimately mirror the weaknesses of existing parties, including the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
He stressed the importance of encouraging opposition leaders to break away from practices that reduce political parties to mere election platforms, which he believes underlies the challenges faced by Nigerian democracy.
He called for leading opposition figures, such as Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to take on key roles in a new political party, serving as National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, and National Secretary.
Lukman also urged the inclusion of disaffected APC leaders committed to forming a new opposition party, including prominent figures like Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Nasir El-Rufai, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
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“To genuinely rescue Nigeria, opposition leaders must prioritize addressing party funding challenges,” Lukman noted.
He emphasized the need for adequate budgeting to cover remuneration and conditions of service for party leaders at all levels.
He advocated for the new opposition platform to adopt an inclusive and citizen-friendly approach to encourage wider electoral participation across the country.
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Lukman also called for opposition leaders to develop a comprehensive national strategy that could increase Nigeria’s annual budget from less than N40 trillion to at least N150 trillion.
Furthermore, he stressed the importance of state governments committing to raising their annual budgets to a minimum of N1 trillion, similar to Lagos State, which is currently the only state operating at that level.
Lukman questioned whether the proposed opposition party would merely serve as an election vehicle or evolve into a broader political organization capable of attracting competent leaders.
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He posed critical inquiries about whether opposition leaders like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso would prioritize the collective progress of Nigeria over their individual ambitions for the 2027 elections.
He concluded by highlighting the need for negotiations among opposition leaders to extend participation to a broader segment of Nigerians, which could compel politicians to prioritize taking on leadership roles within their parties.
He cautioned against a scenario where these initiatives devolve into self-serving campaigns for election candidacy, potentially resulting in leaders who may prove less effective than those currently in power.
