Former Director General of Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Dr. Salihu Lukman, has said it behooves the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be responsive to the yearnings of Nigerians.

Speaking after meeting with two erstwhile national chairmen of the ruling party, Bisi Akande and Adams Oshiomhole in Abuja, he stated that disagreement remains the hallmark of progressive politics.

“To become a progressive political party is about being organically connected with Nigerians based on which both the party and governments it produces will be both responsive and representative of the wider interests of Nigerians,” he said.

Lukman revealed that he chatted with the duo on recent developments in party, including publication and transitional politics. The immediate Vice Chairman (Northwest) of the APC said: “Both the two leaders welcome the initiative and expressed concern about recent experiences, which erode the democratic space within the party. 

“In particular, both leaders acknowledged the leadership role of President Bola Tinubu in resisting attempt by some conservative leaders within the party to impose a consensus presidential candidate for the 2023 elections.

“Notably, they both recalled how many leaders of the APC had to rise against a determined effort by fellow party leaders to undermine the APC’s electoral victory during the 2023 elections.

“While commending the initiative to document these experiences, the two leaders were unanimous that returning APC to its founding vision of becoming a progressive party will require consistent struggle against conservative elements both within the party and outside.

“It is not going to be an easy battle, and would require strong commitment and capacity to stubbornly continue to campaign for restoration of democratic values within the APC.

“Comrade Adams “(Oshiomhole) was emphatic that progressive leaders within the APC must encourage disagreements as basis for nurturing the growth and development of both the party and Nigeria’s democracy. 

“He recalled some of the disagreements we had when he was national chairman, and how my ability to express my disagreement with his positions had defined our relationship since our time in national union of textiles from the early 1990s.

“It was a rare privilege meeting these leaders. It is both inspiring, reassuring, and challenging listening to their perspectives about developments in APC, and what needs to be done to return the APC to its founding vision.

“My hope is to provoke deeper internal debate within the APC about developing the party to achieve its founding vision.  “The engagement will continue. APC and transition politics will be produced and hopefully, it will be used to facilitate deeper internal debate within the party and the future of Nigerian democracy. 

“One of the goals of that deeper internal debate will be about transforming the APC to go beyond being just an electoral vehicle, limited to only producing candidates for elections.”