Former APC Deputy Chairman Slams Northern Politicians In Tinubu’s Govt, Says They’re Absentee Public Servants Reduced To Mere ‘Cheerleaders’
Lukman expressed his dismay at the pervasive issues affecting the region, including insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse, which he believes are exacerbated by the lack of unity among Northern leaders.
Former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has expressed his dismay at the state of the northern region after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.
Lukman expressed his dismay at the pervasive issues affecting the region, including insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse, which he believes are exacerbated by the lack of unity among Northern leaders.
He also criticised President Bola Tinubu for allegedly exploiting this disunity and marginalising the North-Central region in key political appointments.
In a candid open letter to Northern politicians, Lukman cautioned that the region is teetering on the edge of chaos, with desperate and hungry citizens potentially turning to looting and violence if urgent action is not taken.
Lukman called on political leaders to acknowledge their role in the region’s downturn and take concrete steps towards redemption by tackling the pressing issues affecting the North.
He lamented that the opportunity for meaningful reform was missed during President Buhari’s administration, resulting in the region’s further decline.
Lukman stressed the urgent need for collective action to address the region’s challenges and restore stability, warning that delay could have dire consequences.
He said: “So far, one year has passed into President Asiwaju Tinubu’s administration. No doubt, Northern political leaders are becoming weaker and more disorganised. Even the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima GCON, who is the highest office holder and by virtue of that should have served as the needed rallying point for Northern politicians, is anything but a political leader.
“With every respect, hardly any official of the current administration of President Asiwaju Tinubu from the North, including Sen. Shettima, is willing and able to take the needed risk to defend the interest of the North. Painfully, what is emerging is that most leaders from the North are more concerned about self-preservation in the government.”
It added, “Because of self-preservation, already scheming for 2027 has commenced. Within the Presidency, there are indicative cold war dynamics and positioning, which is alleged to be responsible for the praise-singing disposition of Vice President Shettima.
“The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mal. Nuhu Ribadu has devalued an exalted office almost to the status of a Protocol Office to President Asiwaju Tinubu.”
“Virtually all other Northern politicians holding offices in this government, including the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume are absentee public servants who have been reduced to members of a choir group poorly singing ‘on your mandate we stand’ irrespective of the shaky and staggering reality being demonstrated by the mandate holder with reference to poor service delivery and crashing living conditions in the last one year,” he added.
