Picking anointed successor makes OBASANJO part of Nigeria’s problems – LUKMAN

Tuesday, December 17, 2024 - Former National Vice Chairman, North West, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman has accused ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo of being part of Nigeria’s problems.

Lukman said the decision of Obasanjo and other past leaders to produce “anointed successors” makes them part of Nigeria’s challenges since independence.

He was reacting to Obasanjo’s remark that even Satan produces leaders but such are bound to fail, while those chosen by God will succeed.

Speaking during a Zoom programme titled “Boiling Point Arena,” hosted by a radio station in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, the former President also noted that most leaders are prepared by God.

However, Lukman said Obasanjo should show courage by accepting his past mistakes as Nigeria seeks solutions to its challenges.

Lukman disclosed this in an open letter titled “Satanic Leadership and Nigeria’s Boiling Point”.

He charged the former President to stop dwelling on the “vain glory” of his past and recognise that all Nigerian leaders since independence share responsibility for the leadership crises plaguing the country.

The former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, urged Obasanjo to accept responsibility as one of Nigeria’s privileged leaders.

Lukman said: “Your Excellency inadvertently institutionalized the practice of imposition of candidates in our political parties.

“Without going into details, you will recall how in PDP, ahead of the 2007 elections, under Your Excellency’s leadership, the practice of imposition of candidates became the political robe of the PDP.

“Eventually, being the ruling party for sixteen years, the imposition of candidates became an acceptable political rule.

“With imposition, basically, our democracy lost its bearing and became a shadow of the worst authoritarian system.

“The major challenges faced by Nigeria since independence are a result of attempts by past leaders, including Your Excellency, to produce ‘anointed’ successors.

“This has contributed to the political crises and the resulting social and economic challenges, which have worsened under successive administrations.”