Lukman: Morbid desire for naked power driving Tinubu’s government

Salihu Lukman, a former vice-chair of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north-west, says a morbid desire for naked power is driving the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement on Monday, Lukman said the administration of Tinubu and that of former President Muhammadu Buhari are similar because APC leaders have little or no say in them.

The former director-general of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) said just like during Buhari’s administration, Tinubu is making appointments without recourse to the party.

“Even with President Asiwaju Tinubu in power today, who has throughout his political career associated himself with late Chief Awolowo’s philosophical and ideological leanings, ‘morbid desire for naked power’ seems to be the driving aspirations of his leadership,” he said.

“Otherwise, how can anyone explain the emerging attributes of President Asiwaju Tinubu’s government? Complaints about poor access to the President by many APC leaders are widespread.

“Capacity of APC leaders to exercise influence on President Asiwaju Tinubu’s government is very narrow.

“Both the two are governments produced by APC but interestingly, both APC as a political party and leaders of the party had little or no say in the two governments.

“If late Chief Awolowo was the ‘best President’ Nigeria never had, why should his claimed political disciple in the person of President Asiwaju Tinubu fail to achieve his dream?

“Why should President Asiwaju Tinubu allow ‘morbid desire for naked power’ to take over his government?”

Lukman said this desire for naked power is what has consumed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“In fact, it is what is consuming the PDP so much so that today, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is succeeding to destroy the PDP,” he said.

“And Mr. Obi has taken over the Labour Party (LP) without any corresponding commitment to build the structures of the party based on which elected leaders produced by the LP can be held accountable.”

The former DG said for Tinubu to be able to fulfill his Renewed Hope agenda, order should be restored to the APC.