APC Chieftain describes Salihu Lukman as a loosed political cannon

Chief Oliver Okpala,Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment to All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has described Dr Salihu Lukma, the party’s immediate past National Vice-Chairman North-West as a loosed political cannon.

He said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja while reacting to Lukman’s recent outburst on Ganduje which he described as unfortunate.

He noted that Lukman had been

rudderless in his public utterances and conduct over the years.

According to Okpala, Lukman’s outburst is a wrong narrative on Ganduje as a political father and one that is trying to unify the country and the party as a true democrat and detribalised Nigerian leader.

He recalled that Lukman in a recent interview, accused Ganduje of not adhering to the party’s Constitution and not carrying members of its National Working Committee (NWC) along.

“For him to make such claims about Ganduje means that he is indeed mischievous.

“He is trying to give a wrong narrative about the political superiority and effective leadership which Ganduje has been providing for the party.

“We know Lukman’s cantankerous antecedents and we are not surprised by this incredulous outburst.

“A party official who has fought every party leadership, even the one he served alongside is not a person who should be taken seriously,” Okpala said.

He dismissed Lukman’s insinuations that Ganduje was not carrying other members of the party’s  NWC.

Okpala said  contrary to Lukman’s  insinuations, the APC ship was sailing smoothly and every member of its various organs were being carried along.

He described Ganduje as a calculative, strategic and composed leader who holds meetings with the party’s NWC when necessary, not just for meeting sake.

“For Ganduje, strategy is better than energy. He is not a rabble rouser and would continue to lead the APC with dignity and decorum.

“Ganduje is not a rowdy or confused attention seeker. He is a father to all in the party.

“Lukman’s conduct and utterances have shown that he is politically bankrupt. He is politically confused and should not be associated with.

“Otherwise, how can he be against every leadership of a party he says he belongs,” Okpala said.

He added that Lukman should realise that he does not need to insult his leaders to be popular.

He warned the political class against politics of bitterness and bad blood which he said Lukman plays.

He said Lukman’s antecedents showed clearly that he should not be taken seriously, adding that his style of politics had been that of puerile antagonism, putrid hate, and baleful bitterness.

This, he said, had no place in contemporary politics as the nation and indeed the APC had passed that pedestrian level of political bitterness and antagonistic.

He stressed that Ganduje was a modern political messiah who stood eminently on the robust platform of decorum, respect and love for the people.

“He exudes love, faith, joy and happiness and he is committed to letting such pristine virtues to permeate Nigeria’s political orbit.

“Ganduje is a man who has seen it all, he is father to all and that is why the APC national leadership decided to make him the national chairman.

“The essence is for him to be a unifying factor, a stabiliser, who will use his wealth of experience in resolving political differences.

“He has also began to greatly impact positively on the fortunes and image of the party in the current dispensation,” Okpala said.

According to him, what Ganduje has done since he came on the saddle is to unite and not to divide like Lukman and some others alleged.

He, however, maintained that Ganduje would not be distracted by the likes of Lukman.

He said the APC under Ganduje, would continue to focus on building love, peace, internal party democracy and forthrightness in all political dealings.

“Already, the way Ganduje has brought decorum to bear in the affairs of the party speaks volume.

“Coupled with the love APC members and leaders across the country have so far shown him, Ganduje has been attracting awards and commendations across boards.

“His well-known political clout and image has gone before him to be creating goodwill for the APC.

“The traditional titles recently conferred on him in various parts of the country shows how acceptable he is in the nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

“Therefore, a political lilliputian like Lukeman cannot speak for the teeming Nigerians, and particularly APC members who have clearly shown their acceptance of Ganduje,”Okpala stressed (https://newsatlarge.ng)