Salihu Lukman, the immediate-past National Vice Chairman, North-west, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has issued a stark warning to Governor Uba Sani.
Lukman asserted that Sani’s days in office are numbered, predicting that he, along with President Bola Tinubu, will be voted out in the next three years.
Lukman’s comments were made in a letter titled “Issues of Politics and Governance in Kaduna: The Truth,” dated June 13, 2024.
The letter, widely circulated among key political figures including former Governor Nasir El-Rufai and several prominent Kaduna politicians, criticizes Governor Sani for allegedly engaging in a proxy war against his predecessor, El-Rufai, on behalf of the presidency.
“I am honestly worried for you. You are setting a precedent that will hurt you. All I can say is, be careful. Maximum, in the next seven years, you will be out. You must recognize that without Mallam, it would almost have been impossible for you to rise to where you are today,” Lukman stated.
Lukman accused both Governor Sani and President Tinubu of displaying autocratic tendencies that threaten Nigeria’s democratic achievements over the past 25 years.
“Unfortunately, both President Asiwaju Tinubu and you have alienated yourselves and you are behaving as autocrats, and if left unchecked, whatever has been achieved under this democracy in the last 25 years will be destroyed,” he warned.
The former APC vice chairman expressed disappointment over a meeting called by Sani two months prior, which he described as a missed opportunity for meaningful dialogue.
Instead, he claimed it devolved into a mere photo opportunity, manipulated by those close to the governor to stifle genuine discussion and reform.
“This is consistent with the tradition in APC. APC is about the only political party in the world that exists without holding meetings, and leaders are comfortable with that. This certainly is not the democracy we fought for,” Lukman lamented, questioning the commitment of current leaders to the democratic principles they once championed.
In his letter, Lukman painted a grim picture of the current political climate in Kaduna and the broader national context.
He expressed frustration with the direction the APC has taken and his determination to return to grassroots mobilization for change.
“I have therefore made up my mind to return to the trenches and resume mobilisation for change. Unless APC and you our leaders embrace change and return to some level of sanity, this will require that we mobilize and get you out of power in 2027 at all levels,” he declared.
Lukman concluded with a somber note, emphasizing the local impact of national politics. “Given that at the end of the day, politics is local, even if you accept to reform yourself but President Asiwaju Tinubu did not embrace reforms, you will be collateral damage. Take it from me, the campaign to defeat APC and President Asiwaju Tinubu is just starting and it will take root in Kaduna State.