By OBSERVERS TIMES
Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney General of the Federation, has expressed strong criticism of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for prioritizing the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid instead of addressing the pressing economic challenges facing the nation.
Malami made these remarks during a meeting organized by the National Political Consultative Group (North) in Abuja on Sunday, which drew notable opposition leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate.
In his keynote address, Malami emphasized that Tinubu’s policies are negatively impacting the economy of northern Nigeria. He lamented that rather than confronting critical issues such as insecurity, economic hardship, and escalating poverty, the ruling party chose to focus on political maneuvering, particularly endorsing Tinubu as the sole candidate for the 2027 election, which is still two years away.
“Recently, the ruling party held its national summit, and instead of tackling the serious issues at hand, they chose to endorse President Bola Tinubu,” Malami stated, as reported by THISDAY.
He called on stakeholders to unite in order to reclaim the nation and work towards a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
The APC’s national summit, held on May 22 in Abuja, saw party members, including Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, formally endorse Tinubu for a second term. Malami, who served as Attorney General from 2015 to 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has been vocal about the dissatisfaction among some members of the APC, particularly those from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc.
A communiqué from the meeting, signed by Babachir Lawal, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that delegates agreed on the necessity for the north to present a united front in future elections. They emphasized the importance of selfless leadership in both political parties and public sector governance.
The communiqué highlighted concerns over elected leaders who make decisions without consulting their constituents, urging voters to hold such officials accountable. It also called for a focus on industrialization and productivity to address the current economic challenges.
Looking ahead, the group resolved that support for candidates in elections should be based on enforceable agreements that protect the interests of the northern region, regardless of the candidates’ origins.
