Former vice chairman (North-West) of All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has accused President Bola Tinubu of governing the country in a manner reminiscent of a military dictator.

The APC chieftain also accused Tinubu of dismantling the party’s structures and assuming a royal posture, believing he holds all the answers to Nigeria’s challenges. Lukman emphasized that the prevailing security and socio-economic crises could jeopardize Tinubu’s reelection bid if left unaddressed.

In a statement on Saturday, Salihu argued that the rampant poverty, insecurity, hunger, and soaring cost of living indicated a betrayal of Nigerians by the APC and its leaders. He said both former President Muhammadu Buhari and incumbent President Tinubu had undermined the essence of the 2013 merger and the APC manifesto by inflicting hardship on Nigerians.

“What Nigerians are experiencing today was not what was promised at all. The most alarming reality is that the current economic hardship emerged during President Asiwaju Tinubu’s first term, with no signs of abating. Does this imply that President Asiwaju Tinubu is not interested in a second term? Certainly not. “If he is indeed interested in a second term, why is he governing like a military dictator, undermining the party’s structures, and addressing citizens as if he possesses absolute knowledge of their well-being?

“Unless the objective is to secure a second term through other means and not through the electorate’s votes, there is no logical explanation. Could this be the reason for the newfound alliance with some known political mercenaries who vehemently opposed President Asiwaju Tinubu’s election? How successful could they be? “If military governments, despite their hired mercenaries, failed to ensure their survival, how can anyone believe that mercenaries could secure a second term for President Asiwaju?” he questioned.

Lukman stated that one of the prevailing arguments among many disillusioned APC members was that both former President Buhari and Tinubu only sought to win elections and become Presidents of Nigeria. “Once they achieved that, any other consideration regarding good governance and policy orientation was hardly a priority. Essentially, this suggests that the entire merger process that birthed the APC was a deception  “Whether right or wrong, numerous APC leaders and members have come to accept this explanation as the primary motive behind the merger,” he concluded.