Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman North-West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), believes that Senator Ali Ndume’s removal as Chief Whip of the Senate and expulsion from the party indicate that President Bola Tinubu intends to serve only one term.
On Wednesday, Ndume was removed as Senate Chief Whip and replaced by Senator Tahir Monguno in response to a directive contained in a letter sent to the APC Caucus in the Senate signed by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and National Secretary Senator Basiru Ajibola regarding alleged rabid outbursts against the president.
Lukman, in a statement made Thursday titled “Fanatical Mindset,” bemoaned that everything is being done to suppress free expression in the country, adding that it was almost as if the country was back in the Abacha era, if not worse.
The former APC head stated that as things are, people’s personal liberties are under assault and a fair hearing is no longer guaranteed, emphasising that the country has democracy without democrats.
He stated that there is no provision in the APC Constitution that empowers the National Chairman, National Secretary, or any other official, including the National Working Committee, to summarily remove any principal officer of the National Assembly.
He said it was a shame that the APC Senate Caucus would condone such an illegal act, and that by doing so, they have set a precedent that will further damage the independence of the National Assembly.
He said it was a shame that the APC Senate Caucus would condone such an illegal act, and that by doing so, they have set a precedent that will further damage the independence of the National Assembly.
Lukman said, “The way things are, it is almost as if President Asiwaju Tinubu has resolved that he will only be a one-term president. Under his watch, the living conditions of Nigerians are continuously getting worse. Instead of making an effort to develop clear plans to address the situation, the government is becoming more intolerant of criticism.
“Any democracy that cannot accommodate criticism is no democracy. A democracy that subverts fair hearings is a dictatorship. A democracy that permits a ruling party to demobilise its organs and inadvertently expels its members is worse than a military government.”
“So long as APC, its leadership, and Asiwaju Tinubu’s government have taken the self-destructive path, which is equivalent to a declaration of working to end their tenure in 2027, patriotic Nigerians must help them to ensure their defeat in 2027!”
