Buhari’s exit: Politicians must be humble, fulfill promises to win elections—Lukman

• Era of Buhari raising someone’s hand to victory is over

By Jude Opara, Abuja

One of the chieftains of the opposition coalition in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Salihu Lukman, has said that the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari clearly marks an end to the era of raising someone’s hand which automatically translates to electoral victory.

Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also called on all leaders in the ADC Coalition to remain united, build a strong team spirit and a strong political party that will not only defeat the ruling APC but capable of rescuing Nigerians from the current woes they are facing.

The ADC stalwart who was speaking on Wednesday during a popular morning show on Arise Television, said even before the death of President Buhari, the vacuum had been created, adding that it was even doubtful if before his death the immediate past President could influence electoral victory as he used to do.

“What we must learn, most especially in the Coalition is that we don’t have somebody with the kind of intimidating profile like that of the late Buhari and what that means is that all the leaders of the coalition needs to be humble and acknowledge that they need one another and in the context of that, develop a strong team work. I think that is the challenge we are all facing. Our leaders must have a kind of team spirit.

“It is not about succeeding to defeat APC and Tinubu but succeeding to produce a new, fresh political template that will begin to meet the expectations of Nigerians. That is what I have been emphasizing on. We must try to build a strong political party.”

Lukman said, henceforth politicians must be humble, fulfill campaign promises and negotiate good relationship with citizens to ensure victory in elections.

In a related development, Lukman who equally spoke Tuesday evening on the passing of former President Buhari on Channels Television popular programme, Politics Today, said when the late President was alife, most people who aspired for position, instead of going to negotiate good relationship with citizens so that good relationship translate into votes, concentrated more in terms of getting his (Buhari’s) endorsement.

“I am aware, being somebody from the North, I know that many politicians look forward to him raising their hands and endorsing them. That translates almost into victory in many places in the North. And that, in a way, made politicians to be lazy.

“Now we don’t have any figure like that, which is why today I am one of those in the Coalition who keeps raising the point that leaders of the Coalition must remember, we don’t have somebody like late President Buhari anymore, who when he raises your hand, it translates into victory.

“What that means is that politicians must be humble and begin to engage citizens with more listening ears and disposition when they promise and win election to begin to meet those expectations of citizens.

“And we have to work hard. The challenge of having somebody like late President Buhari now absent in Nigerian politics is that politicians must realize, especially those who want to contest election, if they are to win, except if they want to rig, they must be humble and relate to citizens with higher level of humility rather than the current arrogance.”

Lukman in his tribute described the late Buhari as a great politician who stood out as one of those politicians who command a lot of popularity. He added that his popularity, especially in the North cannot be in any way doubted.