According to Channels Television, Salihu Lukman, former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has condemned the state of Nigerian democracy for legitimizing the issue of "state capture." In a statement released on Sunday, Lukman argued that the machinery of government at all levels is increasingly oriented to serve the narrow interests of elected officials rather than the public.
Lukman explained that the term “state capture” originated from the World Bank around the year 2000 to describe situations in Central Asian countries transitioning from Soviet communism. According to Wikipedia, it refers to "situations where small corrupt groups used their influence over government officials to appropriate government decision-making to strengthen their own economic positions."
“The reality is that Nigerian democracy has legitimised the problem of state capture whereby the machinery of government at all levels are being privatised and oriented only to serve the narrow interests of elected officials. Public resources and funds are allocated or diverted to benefit elected officials,” Lukman stated. He highlighted that this phenomenon is now a dominant characteristic of African democracy, with Nigeria being a prime example.
Lukman pointed out that while state capture was previously more prevalent at the state government level, it has become a national issue under the APC's leadership from 2015 to 2024. He accused President Bola Tinubu of exacerbating the problem. “In Nigeria, from a situation whereby it is more the case with State Governments, under the APC, between 2015 and now (2024), it has become a national phenomenon and President Asiwaju Tinubu is building on that and perfecting it,” Lukman remarked.
He cited the legislative arm's loss of independence as a significant concern, noting that under former President Muhammadu Buhari, there were instances of disagreement with the National Assembly. However, under Tinubu’s administration, this independence has reportedly diminished. “Although, under former President Buhari, the legislative arm of government at Federal level (National Assembly) has some semblance of independence with instances of disagreements with former President Buhari, it is now reduced to nothing more than an extension of the Presidency,” Lukman criticized.
Lukman also expressed concerns about Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s conduct, describing it as an embarrassment. “The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio is turning out to be an uncommon embarrassment to Nigerians, shamelessly desecrating the institution of the Senate and his colleagues. His praise-singing disposition to President Asiwaju Tinubu is certainly uncommon without any limit,” he stated. He warned that Akpabio's leadership risks compromising the Senate’s ability to act independently, making it merely an arm of the Executive.