Salihu Lukman, a former vice-chair of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north-west, says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso must form an alliance to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Obi and Kwankwaso were presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) respectively in the 2023 general election.
Lukman said former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as well as former governors Nasir el-Rufai, Kayode Fayemi, and Rotimi Amaechi could be part of the alliance.
In a statement on Sunday, the former director-general of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), said the APC promised to tackle corruption but graft has persisted under its administrations.
“The requirement for high acceptability from all sections of the country should humble all political leaders in the country, especially Alh. Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi not to exploit the need for such a united front by imposing their Presidential ambitions,” he said.
“In the same vein, other APC leaders such as Prof. Osinbajo, Chief Amaechi, Dr. Fayemi, Mal. El-Rufai, Sen. Amosu, etc. (APC political orphans) who in one way or the other have ambitions to become Nigeria’s President must bury such ambitions, at least not during the negotiation to form the united political front.
“We must appeal to all political leaders in Nigeria, across all the political parties in the country to commit themselves in forging a new atmosphere of political unity in the country based on selfless disposition, forgiving the misgiving of the past and national reconciliation.
“If APC and President Asiwaju Tinubu are to have any considerable electoral strength in 2027 it will be on account of the current division, which characterise Nigerian politics and make it impossible for any form of cooperation by political leaders.
“Absence of cooperation among political leaders is responsible for the rising incidences of bad governance in the country and is eroding the basis of Nigerian nationhood.
“Once democracy cannot respond to challenges facing citizens, Nigeria as a sovereign entity will be irrelevant and questionable.
“Nigerian opposition political leaders, including the orphaned leaders of APC who are excluded in the APC government of President Asiwaju Tinubu, notably Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, etc. must unite to rescue Nigeria.
“Whether producing the united political platform can be achieved through merger of existing parties, forming a new party or rebranding any of the existing parties is a decision that can be determined if leaders agree to come together and unite.”
Lukman added that rescuing Nigeria is about teamwork and partnership.
“It is only through conscious and committed teamwork that we can rebuild important democratic institutions such as political parties, legislatures, electoral bodies, and other institutions, which could hold elected officials accountable,” he said.