The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Vice Chairman,
North West, Dr. Salihu Lukman has warned that the decision of President
Muhammadu Buhari to choose his successor would potentially mobilise Nigerians
against the party and rubbish him.
Recall that the
president had on Tuesday appealed to the APC governors to allow him to choose
his successor.
Lukman in a statement issued Wednesday titled, “Succession
and 2023 APC Presidential Candidate: Open Letter to President Muhammadu Buhari”
warned that the decision of the president might damage his reputation.
He warned that anything short of giving all the presidential
aspirants a level playing field at the June 6 convention of the party would be
inimical to the electoral fortune of the party.
The party chieftain stressed that more than anytime, at this
point, when Buhari would not be on the ballot in 2023, his measured leadership
would be much more required to guarantee the ruling party sustained electoral
victory.
He recalled that the unfortunate third-term agenda of former
President Olusegun Obasanjo eroded all his achievements as a leader, adding
that it was necessary to caution against any transition initiative that risked
being unpopular.
The party chieftain said APC must be able to demonstrate
much more sensitivity to the challenges of national unity by ensuring that the
eventual standard-bearer of the party for the 2023 Presidential election
embodies a commitment to equity and justice as the underlying principles
sustaining the corporate existence of Nigeria as a united country.
Lukman emphasised that the temptation for leaders to choose
their successors was democratically risky and very costly.
He said if in 2013/2014, Buhari submitted himself to the
internal democratic process, it was important that his successor also follows
the same process.
Lukman said: “Ordinarily, this should not be a problem. Both
party members and leaders will always trust Your Excellency’s judgment.
However, the big worry is whether loyal party leaders and members should just
reduce themselves to being ordinary observers when very sensitive issues with
very high potential to diminish and damage Your Excellency’s revered status in
the country is being considered.
“Noting that the current phenomena of poor relations between
predecessors and successor governors are largely a product of poorly instituted
political succession arrangement in the country, which is impulsive and
imposing, it will be highly risky to adopt the same succession framework as it can
erode all your lifelong achievements as someone who contributes a lot to
strengthen Nigerian democracy.
“Like in the case of December 10, 2014 APC National
Convention, everything will be done at the June 6, 2022 APC National Convention
to guarantee a level playing field for all aspiring Presidential candidates of
our party. Any recommendation to the contrary will be inimical and injurious to
the electoral fortunes of our great party, APC.
“Any initiative that potentially took away the rights of
party members to elect candidates would potentially mobilise Nigerians against
the party and rubbish Mr. President.”
Lukman, therefore, urged Buhari to resist the temptation.
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