From Victor Osula, Abuja
Lukman
In protest against the adoption of former Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje by Chairmen of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, in the North West geo- political zone, under the influence of President Bola Tinubu, the National Vice Chairman of the party in charge of North West, Dr Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has resigned his membership of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
The zone’s Chairmen from Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Katsina had on Tuesday endorsed Ganduje as replacement for the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore, who were forced out of the party exactly a week ago following prolonger and perceived anti- Tinubu stand (Adamu) since the party’s presidential convention in July 8, 2022, which Adamu’s candidate, Ahmad Lawan lost woefully.
Lukman has been critical of the move to appoint former governor of Kano state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as the next national chairman of APC, arguing that the position should remain in the North Central zone for balance and that the candidate must be from the Christian faith considering the Muslim -Muslim ticket at the presidency, for fairness.
In his resignation letter he sent to the acting Chairman, Senator Kyari, Lukman accused Tinubu of being undemocratic in his choice of Ganduje, a know crony of the president.
In a resignation letter signed Wednesday, July 26, Lukman expressed “hope that our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will retract from acts that will be unjust and illegal, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.,’
Full text if the letter reads: “I hereby kindly resign my position as National Vice Chairman, North-West of our great party. All Progressives Congress (APC). My resignation is with immediate effect, which become necessary given my conviction that the atmosphere in the party is completely at variance with the founding vision of forming a progressive party.
“Rather than remaining in the leadership of the party and become a source of distraction for leaders and especially for the young government of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is better to excuse myself and take time off from politics.
“I will, however, retain my membership of the party in the hope that our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will retract from acts that will be unjust and illegal, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.
“I wish to convey my sincerely gratitude to our leaders in Kaduna, especially Mallam Nasir Ahmad Ei-Rufai for finding me worthy of nomination to serve at the highest level of the party’s leadership. I do hope all our leaders will appreciate that I am left with no option in the circumstance. I wish the party and all our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bold Ahmed Tinubu all the best and will continue to give my modest support towards the success of the party fromt he background.”
