Presidency knocks ex-APC chieftain, Lukman over bad governance comment

The Presidency has blasted former National Vice Chairman, Northwest of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman, over what he (Lukman) described as growing deterioration of governance in the country.

Lukman said each successive administration had become progressively worse than its predecessor.

He said while President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was worse than that of President Goodluck Jonathan, it was saddening that President Bola Tinubu administration was on track to becoming worse than that of Buhari.

He lamented that in spite of this, there was no structured engagements regarding 2027 among leading opposition leaders such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party, LP; and Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP.

“It is not enough to complain that President Bola Tinubu is bad without corresponding initiative to ensure that 2027 results in the defeat of APC at all levels. If APC is defeated in 2027, what is the guarantee that the new government to emerge post-Tinubu will not be worse?

“As Nigerians, we are witnesses to how governments at all levels progressively become worse. With all the confidence many of us had in former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguably his performance failed to meet public expectations, perhaps worse than former President Goodluck Jonathan.

”Certainly, President Tinubu is on track to becoming worse than former President Buhari,” Lukman stated.

In a swift response, however, the presidency said it would not be distracted by comments from some people on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it was focused on governance.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said, “We are focused on governance. The results of our reforms will speak eloquently for us. We have no time for people whose pastime is denigrating the administration.”