Nigeria’s Challenges Did Not Begin Today, Lagos APC Replies Tambuwal

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has criticised former Sokoto State governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, over his recent remark that Nigeria is in peril and needs urgent salvation.

The party in a statement signed by its spokesman, Mogaji Seye Oladejo described Tambuwal’s comment as alarmist and accused him of exhibiting misplaced moral outrage, arguing that he failed to provide the leadership now being demanded when he previously held strategic positions in government.

Oladejo said moments of national challenge required introspection and accountability rather than what it called political grandstanding.

He noted that Nigerians expected tangible dividends of leadership during Tambuwal’s years in public office, adding that his recent comments ignored that history.

According to him, Tambuwal’s recent 60th birthday celebration offered an opportunity for reflection, restitution, and a candid assessment of his public service record, which he claimed was sidestepped.

He also referenced unresolved allegations of graft involving the former governor, saying such issues undermined the credibility of his intervention.

“Nigeria’s difficulties did not emerge overnight, nor can they be attributed solely to the present administration,” he said, adding that many of those warning of national collapse today were active participants in past governance failures.

He stressed that speaking of national peril without acknowledging personal responsibility amounted to political convenience rather than courage, insisting that such rhetoric insulted the intelligence of Nigerians.

While acknowledging the country’s challenges, he maintained that Nigeria was not without leadership or direction, citing ongoing economic and institutional reforms under the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said these reforms required patience, collective responsibility, and sincerity, not what it termed apocalyptic rhetoric aimed at political relevance.

He urged Tambuwal and other opposition figures to move beyond political theatre and support reforms capable of advancing national progress.