Salihu Mohammed Lukman, the former national vice chairman (North West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has conveyed his disappointment with President Bola Tinubu’s selection of ministers, asserting that this has dashed the hopes of Nigerians.

In addition to his critique of the ministerial appointees, Lukman highlighted what he described as unsettling indications during the early days of the Tinubu administration.

Lukman’s concerns were articulated in an open letter to the president, titled “Disturbing Signals: Open Letter to President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu….CONTINUE READING

” The senior APC member accused Tinubu of reintroducing a Muslim-Muslim scenario within the party’s leadership following their victory in the February 25 elections.

The “disturbing signals” he identified encompassed issues such as the prevailing exchange rate (dollar to naira), fuel pump prices, and the president’s ministerial choices, among others.

Lukman criticized the endorsement of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the new national chairman and Ajibola Bashiru as the national secretary, both of whom are Muslims. This decision, according to him, has provoked tension within the party and among the Nigerian populace.

He expressed bewilderment at Tinubu’s choice not to appoint a successor from Nasarawa State after Adamu resigned, opting instead for another Muslim-Muslim pairing.

He questioned why individuals such as Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa State and one of the president’s key loyalists, were overlooked for this position.

Lukman further critiqued the selection criteria for ministers, asserting that these decisions might hinder the implementation of Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.

He wrote, “I feel compelled to address this open letter to you due to the unsettling signals that, if unchecked, could lead to greater issues and irreparably damage our electoral credibility as a party.”

Lukman continued, “Without challenging your authority and commitment to Nigeria’s welfare, there have been decisions you have made within the short period since your inauguration on May 29, 2023, that have deeply troubled many of us who are loyal party members.”

He concluded by expressing concern about the party’s progressive identity and the expectations Nigerians have for the Tinubu government.