A former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Salihu Lukman, has lambasted Northern politicians in President Bola Tinubu’s administration for prioritizing personal interests over the region’s well-being.
In a scathing open letter, Lukman expressed dismay at the lack of leadership and direction from Vice President Kashim Shettima, whom he believed should be rallying Northern politicians.
Lukman accused Northern politicians of being more focused on self-preservation and maneuvering for the 2027 elections, rather than addressing the region’s pressing issues.
He also criticized the National Security Adviser and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for being absentee public servants who prioritize praising the president over serving the region, according to Politics Nigeria.
Lukman’s letter highlights the perceived failure of Northern politicians to prioritize the region’s interests and address its challenges, sparking debate and discussion in political circles.
He said, “So far, one year has pass into President Asiwaju Tinubu administration. No doubt, Northern political leaders are becoming weaker and more disorganised. Even the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima GCON, who is the highest office holder and by virtue of that should have served as the needed rallying point for Northern politicians, is anything but a political leader.
“With every respect, hardly any official of the current administration of President Asiwaju Tinubu from the North, including Sen. Shettima, is willing and able to take the needed risk to defend the interest of the North. Painfully, what is emerging is that most leaders from the North are more concern about self-preservation in the government.
“Because of self-preservation, already scheming for 2027 has commenced. Within the Presidency there are indicative cold war dynamics and positioning, which is alleged to be responsible for the praise-singing disposition of Vice President Shettima. The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mal. Nuhu Ribadu has devalued an exalted office almost to the status of a Protocol Office to President Asiwaju Tinubu.
“Virtually all other Northern politicians holding offices in this government, including the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume are absentee public servants who have been reduced to members of a choir group poorly singing ‘on your mandate we stand’ irrespective of the shaky and staggering reality being demonstrated by the mandate holder with reference to poor service delivery and crashing living conditions in the last one year.”
