Some of Nigeria’s problem caused by Obasanjo – APC chieftain, Lookman

• He implored Obasanjo to show courage by accepting his past mistakes as Nigeria seeks solutions to its challenges

An All Progressives Congress, APC, Salihu Lukman, has asserted that discussions around Nigeria’s challenges will not be complete without the mention of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Lukman, a Former National Vice Chairman, North West, of the APC stated that Obasanjo is part of Nigeria’s problems, saying the culture of “anointed successors” is negatively affecting the country.

He was reacting to Obasanjo’s comments on how leaders should emerge as the ex president opining that only leaders chosen by God will succeed and those produced by Satan are bound to fail.

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

He implored Obasanjo to 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 fixating 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.”