Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, acknowledged that President Bola Tinubu’s political journey differs from that of his predecessors.
According to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, the likes of Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, Murtala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari were shaped more by the institutions and constituencies that backed them rather than their own personalities.
Lamido asserted this during a recent interview with Daily Trust, where he spoke deeply on governance in Nigeria and the internal crisis rocking his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Lamido, who was asked why he was still in the PDP despite the division within the opposition party, said, “I am not wallowing. I’m simply saying that Nigeria has given me so much—a space to grow and achieve what I have. So, my focus is on how to give back, to create opportunities for others. This isn’t just personal. No Nigerian leader gets where they are alone; it’s about building something meaningful for future generations.”
“Exactly. None of them were made by their personality alone; they came from institutions, from contexts that empowered them. Tinubu, however, is different.
“He’s defined largely by his personality, not any institutional backing. Buhari tried four times and couldn’t win alone, which shows it wasn’t just about him,” Lamido said while clarifying his claims that no Nigerian leader gets to where they are alone.
When asked whether Tinubu’s political prowess should be admired and praised, the former Governor said: “If it were for the country’s benefit it would be worth celebrating. But this feels different. It is pharaonic—a rule that’s about consolidating power, like a pharaoh.”
“Yes, a leader who can truly guide people towards positive change. But the question remains—are Nigerians willing to follow a “Moses” figure and make the necessary sacrifices? Honestly, I doubt it. The people here are, in a sense, like Pharaoh’s people—resistant to the changes we need,” he added when asked whether Nigeria needs a Moses to lead it to its promised land.
Today’s APC Crisis Stems From PDP Issues
Speaking further on the political scene in Nigeria, Lamido noted that many key members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were once influential Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.
“So, in a way, the APC is itself a product of the PDP’s internal conflicts,” Lamido.
The interview, however, noted that the current president was never in the PDP.
Responding, Lamido said: “True, but about 90% of today’s APC members came from the PDP. Just look at the National Assembly—the Senate president, his deputy, the Speaker of the House, key figures in the Assembly, and many governors. Almost anyone significant in the PDP back then is now in the APC.
Speaking on the belief that some might say his narrations are mere ancient history, Lamido said: “Ancient? How about those in the federal government, those leading the National Assembly? They aren’t ancient; they’re current. But they form a paralyzed half, the APC. The only way forward is for both sides to set aside their grievances. They should reflect on how Nigeria has helped them and reconcile for the country’s sake. Otherwise, how can the PDP stand strong when a chunk of it is in the APC?
[Do you mean like the current FCT minister, a former PDP member, who is now serving the APC and possibly dividing the PDP?
“Leave Wike alone. Wike is a very small boy in PDP history. Where was he in 1999? Everything he’s doing, he learnt from others—betrayal, treachery. There have always been PDP members fighting the party from within. But, frankly, Wike is now inconsequential. I’m more focused on PDP leaders who understand the party’s history and mission. If they return, we could unify the PDP and offer a credible alternative to the APC.
“For me, the PDP that governed from 1999 to 2014 was the real PDP. We had a good PDP and a bad PDP. The government we’ve had from 2014 to today is a bad PDP. Yet I believe those who called PDP corrupt and left to join the APC should reconsider and work together to solve Nigeria’s problems,” Lamido noted.
He, however, stressed that he and other stakeholders are working and keeping their strategies private for the PDP’s restoration.