According to The Sun, Former National Vice Chairman, North-West, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has expressed concerns over the increasing despondency in Nigeria. Lukman called on political leaders to unite in an effort to challenge the administration of President Bola Tinubu. His remarks highlight the widespread dissatisfaction among certain segments of the population regarding the current state of governance and development in the country.
Lukman pointed out that, despite over 25 years since the beginning of the Fourth Republic, significant achievements in physical and human development are lacking. He criticized the performance of successive governments, stating that there are no notable advancements that can be cited as progress. This sentiment reflects a growing frustration with the pace and quality of development initiatives undertaken by various administrations since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
The former APC official went further to criticize elected leaders, likening their operations to that of fraudsters who misuse public resources for personal gain. Lukman's remarks underscore the pervasive issue of corruption within the Nigerian political system. He argued that this misuse of public funds has impeded meaningful development and has contributed to the nation's ongoing challenges.
Additionally, Lukman highlighted the serious problems of insecurity plaguing the country. He linked these issues to broader socio-economic challenges, including poverty, unemployment, and substance abuse among the youth. According to Lukman, these interconnected problems have not been adequately addressed by the current leadership, exacerbating the sense of hopelessness among many Nigerians.
He said: “More than 25 years since the commencement of the Fourth Republic, there is hardly any achievement that can be pointed at, both in terms of physical development of the country and human development.
“Instead, virtually governments, at all levels, have been captured by so-called elected leaders that operate more like Yahoo-Yahoo fraudsters diverting public resources and assets to their private use. Problems of insecurity in the country, which is a byproduct of the crisis of poverty, unemployment, drugs and substance abuse among young people, are hardly getting the deserved attention of elected leaders.