By Adamu Abuh, Abuja
Former Director General of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Malam Salihu Lukman, says Nigerians now have to grapple with the reality of the return of Abacha era that was intolerant of criticism.
Lukman, in a statement on Thursday titled: “Fanatical Mindset”, remarked that it is almost as if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has resolved to embark on a single-term Presidency.
The immediate past national vice chairman of North West of the All Progressives Congress (APC), claimed that living conditions of Nigerians is continuously getting worse under President Tinubu’s watch.
He remarked that instead of making efforts to develop clear plans to address the situation, the government is becoming more intolerant of criticism.
He alleged that in the last week, the government has developed a fanatical mindset of condemning and criminalising criticism so much so that religious leaders are being influenced to declare protests as ungodly.
“Everything is being done to suspend free speech in the country. It is almost as if we are back in the Abacha era, or even worse. As it is, personal liberties of citizens are being threatened because fair hearing is no longer guaranteed. Sadly, we are having democracy without democrats,” he lamented.
The Kaduna-born politician said it is incumbent on all patriotic Nigerians to wake up to the responsibility of rescuing the country.
He added: ” How can we have a democracy that produces leaders who are intolerant to criticism? Why should we allow a situation whereby so-called leaders of the ruling party will behave like officials of military tribunals who operate with the fanatical mindset of condemning everyone accused of wrongdoing without the benefit of fair hearing?
“It is a shame that the APC Senate caucus will permit such an act of illegality. By so doing, they have set a precedence that will further erode the independence of the National Assembly. Already, with the way Sen. Godswill Akpabio has been conducting himself almost reducing the Senate Chamber to the status of a parastatal of government, the action of the APC under the leadership of Dr. Ganduje to direct removal of principal officers for criticising President Asiwaju Tinubu’s government highlight the fanatical mindset undermining Nigerian democracy.
“Any democracy that cannot accommodate criticism is no democracy. A democracy that subverts fair hearing is a dictatorship. A democracy that permits a ruling party to demobilise its organs and inadvertently expels its members is worse than a military government.
“All patriotic Nigerian political leaders must unite to restore Nigeria’s democracy. Nigerian opposition leaders must unite to build a truly strong political party to rebuild Nigerian democracy. All our opposition leaders and orphaned leaders of APC must come together and unite. Sen. Ndume being the newest APC orphan is welcome to join the effort of political leaders in the country to restore and rebuild our democracy.
“So long as APC, its leadership and Asiwaju Tinubu’s government have taken the self-destructive path, which is equivalent to a declaration of working end their tenure in 2027, patriotic Nigerians must help them to ensure their defeat in 2027!”
