Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sule Lamido, has condemned the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), saying the saga underscores the collapse of public institutions and accountability in Nigeria.
Lamido spoke at his Bamaina country home while receiving the PDP governorship candidates for Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi and Yobe states, as well as former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba (retd.), who formally defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP.
The controversy over the PFIPC followed allegations reportedly made by Prince Mathew Adeniyi Adeyemi, who claims to be the Director-General of the council, despite the Presidency maintaining that no such agency exists.
Reacting to the development, Lamido said the issue was symptomatic of a broader institutional failure.
“Tell me, which agency is really functioning? Tell me. None,” he said.
“What is new in Nigeria today? The only thing that is new is when something good happens. Anything bad is normal in Nigeria.”
He argued that the controversy extended beyond the existence of a single agency.
“If this is the kind of thing we have in Nigeria, where institutions have collapsed, what do we expect?”
“Look at the amount of theft in government houses. Look at the amount of theft in banking, in private homes. Look at the amount of fraud among people. The only thing that is new is when you do the right thing. Doing the wrong thing has become the norm.”
The political gathering also highlighted Lamido’s growing influence as a rallying point for the PDP and a bridge between the party’s founding generation and its emerging leaders.
Leading the delegation was the PDP governorship candidate for Gombe State, Professor Isa Ali Pantami, accompanied by the party’s candidates in Jigawa, Mustapha Sule Lamido; Kano, Muhammad Bello Dalha; Bauchi, Usman Adamu Ahmed; and Yobe State.
Pantami said the visit was to seek Lamido’s blessings, guidance and political counsel ahead of the 2027 elections.
“We are in Jigawa State to pay homage to one of our elders and leaders, His Excellency Sule Lamido. It is our tradition to visit our elders, wish them well and seek their words of wisdom because the words of elders are always words of wisdom,” he said.
The former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy described Lamido as a leader whose administration was defined by pro-people policies and an enduring commitment to the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.
He said Lamido’s continued closeness to his rural community years after leaving office distinguished him from many former public office holders.
“Many leaders leave office and cannot return to their villages or stay among their people because they fear being rejected or booed. His Excellency is different because he remains accepted and respected by his people,” Pantami said.
He also commended Lamido’s courage in speaking truth to power.
“Whether people agree or disagree, he always expresses what he believes is right. Such independence of mind is worthy of emulation,” he added.
The other governorship candidates echoed Pantami’s position, describing Lamido as a principled leader whose grassroots appeal, simplicity and commitment to democratic values continue to inspire a new generation of politicians.
The event also witnessed a significant political development with the formal defection of former Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, from the APC to the PDP.
Abba said he decided to leave the ruling party after being denied participation in its senatorial primary despite successfully completing the screening process.
He announced that he would contest the Jigawa South-West Senatorial seat on the PDP platform.
“You are aware that I aspired to become a senator under the APC, but unfortunately, I was not even allowed to participate in the primary election after successfully passing the screening process. My motivation has always been to serve my community, and with the experience, education and good health that God has blessed me with, I have decided to join the PDP, where my contributions will be appreciated,” Abba said.
Welcoming the former police chief, Lamido described his defection as a major boost for the opposition party.
“This is a major catch for the PDP. A personality with Abba’s credentials brings credibility, experience and wider acceptance to our party,” he said.
Lamido said the convergence of the five governorship candidates and Abba’s defection reflected growing confidence in the PDP ahead of the 2027 polls.
Describing himself as a bridge between generations, the former governor said his mission was to prepare younger politicians for leadership.
“They came to see me as an elder, as their father. I am now the link between the old generation and the new generation,” he said.
He urged the governorship candidates to concentrate on building strong states anchored on integrity, competence and service to the people.
“My concern should be at the state level, which should become the new building blocks. We must identify younger people with character, integrity, capacity, commitment and passion for Nigeria.”
Lamido also admonished the candidates to run issue-based campaigns focused on solving Nigeria’s pressing challenges rather than engaging in personal attacks.
“We must restore decency to our politics. Campaigns should centre on policies and programmes, not personalities or insults. Whoever emerges victorious should govern in the interest of all Nigerians,” he said.