N’Chairman Zoning Crises: APC National Vice Chairman, Lukman resigns
By Joel Oladele, Abuja
The National Vice Chairman(North-west) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Salihu Lukman has resigned his position as a member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.
Lukman disclosed this via a letter dated July 26, 2023 addressed to the Acting National Chairman of the party, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
Recall that Lukman has been at loggerheads with the party leadership in recent times.
He was a constant critic of the leadership style of the former Chairman and Secretary of the party, Senators Abdullahi Adamu and Iyiola Omisore respectively until the resignation of the duo last week.
The Kaduna born politician also took his stand against the alleged decision of the party to make the immediate past Governor of Kano state, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje its National chairman.
He insisted that the position should be retained in the North-Central region where the former Chairman hails from as against the North-west. He described such decision as suicidal, unjust and insensitive.
He therefore noted in the letter that the resignation takes immediate effect and that they decision became necessary due to unhealthy atmosphere in the party.
“I hereby kindly resign my position as National Vice Chairman, North-West of our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC).
“My resignation is with immediate effect, which becomes necessary given my conviction that the atmosphere in the party is completely at variance with the founding vision of forming a progressive party.
“Rather than remaining in the leadership of the party and become a source of distraction for leaders and especially for the young government of President Asiwaiu Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it is better to excuse myself and take time off from politics,” Lukman noted.
He added that while he still remains a member of the party, he hopes that the leadership of the party will uphold justice as expected of progressive politicians and patriotic citizens.
“I will however retain my membership of the party in the hope that our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will retract from acts that will be unjust and illegal, which is crucial to any claim of being democratic or progressive whether as politicians or as patriotic Nigerians.
“I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to our leaders in Kaduna especially Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai for finding me worthy of nomination to serve at the highest of the party’s leadership.
“I do hope all our leaders will appreciate that I am left with no option in this circumstance. I wish the party and all our leaders, especially President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu all the best and will continue to give my modest support towards the success of the party from the background,” he said.
