Mallam Salihu Lukman, a key figure in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition, stated on Arise TV Wednesday that none of their current members possess the commanding political profile of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Lukman, who resigned as the National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, emphasized that Buhari’s death should remind Nigeria’s leaders to uphold their responsibilities.
He urged all leaders within the ADC coalition to unite, foster strong teamwork, and build a robust political party capable of not only defeating the APC but also alleviating the current suffering of Nigerians.
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The Kaduna-born politician expressed skepticism that any individual or party could now replicate the electoral influence Buhari held before the 2015 election.
“What we must learn, most especially in the coalition, is that we don’t have somebody with the kind of intimidating profile like that of late Buhari and what that means is that all the leaders of coalition needs to be humble and acknowledge that they need one another and in the context of that, develop a strong team work. I think that is the challenge we are all facing. Our leaders must have a kind of team spirit.
“It is not about succeeding in defeating APC and Tinubu but succeeding in producing a new, fresh political template that will begin to meet the expectations of Nigerians. That is what I have been emphasising. We must try to build a strong political party,” he said.
Mallam Lukman asserted that moving forward, politicians must demonstrate humility, honor their campaign pledges, and cultivate strong relationships with the public.
Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Tuesday evening, following former President Buhari’s death, Lukman observed that many leaders had previously neglected direct engagement with citizens, preferring instead to stay in the former leader’s favor.
He said: “I am aware, being somebody from the North, I know that many politicians look forward to him raising their hands and endorsing them. That translates almost into victory in many places in the North. And that, in a way, made politicians lazy.
“Now we don’t have any figure like that, which is why today I am one of those in the coalition who keeps raising the point that leaders of the coalition must remember, we don’t have somebody like late President Buhari anymore, who, when he raises your hand, it translates into victory.
“What that means is that politicians must be humble and begin to engage citizens with more listening ears and a disposition when they promise and win an election to begin to meet those expectations of citizens.
“And we have to work hard. The challenge of having somebody like late President Buhari now absent in Nigerian politics is that politicians must realise, especially those who want to contest elections, if they are to win elections, except if they want to rig, they must be humble and relate to citizens with a higher level of humility rather than the current arrogance.”
Lukman acknowledged that Buhari was a remarkably popular politician, especially in Nigeria’s northern region. This considerable popularity was, he noted, instrumental in enabling the successful merger that formed the All Progressives Congress (APC) between 2013 and 2014.
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