Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has cautioned former national vice chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Northwest zone, Salihu Lukman, to desist from setting three former Heads of State against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to thwart his re-election in 2027.
Arewa Think Tank was reacting to a publication on Tuesday where Lukman urged the former Heads of State, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and retired General Aliyu Gusau, to formulate strategies against APC for the 2027 elections.
Lukman, who responded to media reports following a meeting held on Sunday in Minna, Niger State, by the trio of the former Heads of State, noted that Nigeria is currently facing an existential crisis, adding that the nation’s democracy is in the “Intensive Care Unit” (ICU).
However, on Wednesday, the Convener of Arewa Think Tank, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, in a statement, advised Lukman to exercise patience till 2027, when he has the right to campaign and vote against Tinubu.
To this end, the former APC national vice chairman was advised by ATT to stop dragging the names of the former Nigerian leaders into the mud, adding that they are men of integrity who can reach out to Mr President whenever the need arises.
According to the statement by ATT, “We should preserve the integrity of our elder statesmen, the former Head of State, Generals Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
“Compared to what Lukman is saying that the retired Generals should come out and remove Tinubu in 2027, it is a very wrong advice. These former Heads of State are revered leaders. If they have issues or advice they want to give Mr President, they can reach out to him”.
The northern group also told Lukman not to heat up the system but should be patient till 2027, when the campaign will start when he has the right to campaign against Tinubu, adding that he should not bring the names of these retired Generals into disrepute.
Lukman had in that publication reflected on a recent National Council of State meeting, which took place on August 13, 2024, where a vote of confidence was passed on President Bola Tinubu, saying that the absence of Obasanjo and Babangida from that meeting might not have been coincidental.
While acknowledging that the respective regimes of Obasanjo and Babangida may have contributed to the current challenges facing Nigeria, Lukman affirmed that they have a responsibility to help steer the nation away from its precarious situation.
He urged them to leverage their influence and experience to reinvigorate the country’s democracy and create a more promising future for Nigerians.
But Arewa Think Tank opined that if President Tinubu had given Lukman an appointment, he (Lukman) wouldn’t have been mounting a campaign of calumny against him.
“We know the characters of people like Lukman. If he is given an appointment tomorrow by Tinubu, he will keep quiet. But we want to tell him that is not the best way to go by anyone with the national interest rather than personal interest to serve the country.
“He should retrace his steps, seek reconciliation and forgiveness within the leadership of the ruling APC where he once called the shots if truly he is sincere and determined to serve the nation”. ATT statement added.
