Ahead of 2019 general elections, political activities are fast picking up, with some opposition elements coming together with the sole aim of upstaging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
As a major step towards giving effect to their ambition, some major political parties namely; the Peoples Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, and a faction of the All Progressives Congress otherwise known as R-APC and 36 others, all signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
The R-APC team, believed to have the backing of Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, was led by its National Chairman, Buba Galadima.
Others The rest are: Action Alliance (AA), Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Better Nigeria Progressive Party, Democratic Alternative (DA), Democratic People’s Party (DPP), Grand Democratic Party of Nigeria (GDPN), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), KOWA Party, Labour Party (LP), Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN).
Others include, National Conscience Party (NCP), New Generation Party (NGP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), Peoples Alliance for National Development and Liberty (PANDEL), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Providence People’s Congress (PPC), Restoration Party of Nigeria (RPN), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), All Grassroots Alliance (AGA), National Interest Party (NIP), Nigeria Democratic Congress Party (NDCP), Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), and Young Democratic Party (YDP among others.
They came together under the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) for a grand alliance to ‘defeat’ the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the APC.
The event had in attendance notable PDP bigwigs like Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Akwa Ibom state Governor; Emmanuel Udom, former Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa, that of Kaduna, Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Senator Jonah Jang of Plateau and former governor of Cross River state, Senator Liyel Imoke, who is the chairman of the Contact and Integration Committee.
And from the R-APC team were Abubakar Kawu Baraje, and Senator Dino Melaye.
The SDP team was led by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, while former governor of Osun state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola led the African Democratic Congress.
Our mission-Ikimi Unveiling the coalition, elder statesman, High Chief Tom Ikim disclosed that the MoU shall seek to promote acceptable core values for the country’s restructuring.
Ikimi further added that “all the parties have agreed to secure lives and property, rebuild and redirect our nation’s economy for meaningful development.
“The parties shall promote and constitute a well-articulated blueprint manifesto which positive impact will be felt immediately, the manifesto shall be in covenant with the Nigerian people to promote national unity.
“The parties shall promote the merger that will bring about a unity government that will usher in abundant peace, unity and prosperity and ensure safety of lives and properties, and bring about a well- structured Nigeria federation,” he added.
He also revealed that, “the parties shall work together to ensure the emergence of a joint presidential candidate of which modalities for the emergence shall be under a separate agreement.
“The parties shall ensure that the coalition is committed to working together to support a single Presidential candidate to dethrone and enthrone a true unity government that will salvage the country.” Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting which held at the Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, Senator Ben Obi described the 2019 election as “a battle between light and darkness,” saying the coalition is the light that has come to rescue Nigeria.
According to him, the essence of the gathering “is to form a new coalition that will usher in a unity government, to rescue the nation from further collapse, to put in place a government that will take full responsibilities of lives and properties of Nigerians.
We are here to rescue the nation from mishaps.”
R-APC steals the show Addressing the gathering, the R-APC Leader, Engineer Galadima noted that the signing of the MoU by the political parties would send a signal not only to those on the other side of the coin, but to the entire world.
Galadima, who charged all parties to be prepared of intimidation from the ruling APC said, “since we made declaration of the Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC), we have received unsolicited support and text messages from all over the world.
I am confident that if we are fair to ourselves, do things transparently and bring out one man or woman, we will save this country and create a better future for our children and grandchildren.” He, however, noted that, “this is not going to be a tea party; the man we will be facing is a retired military general.
But he knows me and he knows that I know him.
If I were his advisers, I will advise him not to attempt to contest.
From what I know, I assure you that President Buhari will not only lose the election, but he will also lose his deposit.” Sounding confident, the R-APC leader said, “from the day we announced the formation of the R-APC a lot of people received threat, a lot of people received gratification, a lot of people received pressure from all quarters to persuade them to back out.
Some of us are old soldiers, we are ready, prepared to take on this fight despite many depravation, intimidation even torture, because this country belongs to all of us.
“We must together fight to put things in order.
For some people that will be looking for money, we have provided an avenue for them to make money, because they are planning to set aside public money to fund 2019 election.
This government is desperate and they can do anything, they can kill, arrest and detain.
But whichever one they choose to do, we are prepared to lay down our lives to rescue Nigeria,” he said amidst thunderous ovation.
Restructuring resonates In his remarks, SDP Leader, Chief Falae, also lamented that, “most Nigerians are depressed because of the terrible condition that we find ourselves today, we are all unhappy that our country is the way it is.
“The way things are, we cannot afford to dissipate energy, all our votes must go to the same presidential candidate, all our votes most go to the same governorship candidates in every state, all our votes must go to the same senatorial candidates in all the senatorial districts and members of the House and state assemblies.
Because it is not sufficient to elect just the President, we need to restructure Nigeria so the President needs the National Assembly to achieve that.” Also speaking, former Governor Oyinlola, who led the ADC team, reasoned that “these are not the best of times in our country.
For the past three years, insecurity has become the order of the day, while the government is lost and continues to pass the blames in the most unfortunate manner.” He believed that “beyond defeating the incumbent government, the key content of the agreement is a commitment to restructure Nigeria into a fully working and workable federation.
I plead that we respect the spirit and letter of this agreement, in the overall interest of our nation and people.
PDP Chair warns APC Similarly, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, warned that “we cannot be cowed.
If our heroes past had been cowed down in these historic events I just highlighted above, we would not have democracy or a nation today.” He urged all members of the coalition to “stand up for the rule of law to prevail or posterity would judge us harshly.
Our leaders were fearless and united and they rescued this country from draconian regimes in the past.
But what we are doing today, fear has taken flight and the spirit of God has taken over, we must stand up to defend our people.
“I therefore call on all of us to be strong, steadfast and courageous, let’s chase out APC in our lives and form a National Government that will bring succour to our people,” he said.
‘No threat to Buhari’ But amidst all this, a pro-Buhari group has dismissed the coalition as no threat to the second term ambition of the President.
Speaking under the aegis of Progressive Groups Youth Mobilisation in Kano, they said the formation of R-APC would not affect the chances of President in 2019.
Chairman of the group, Alhaji Bala Dawaki, made the remark while addressing a news conference in Kano, yesterday.
According to him, the achievements recorded by the Buhari administration were enough to convince Nigerians to give him a second chance in 2019.
“The Buba Galadima-led Reformed APC will not succeed as Galadima and other members of the group are doomed to fail.
“The present administration has achieved a lot, especially in the areas of fight against insurgency, corruption as well as the various empowerment programmes initiated in the last three years.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has really fulfilled his campaign promises to Nigerians and I believe they will re-elect him in 2019.
“The formation of R-APC will not in any way affect Buhari’s chances of re-election in 2019,”he said.
He said the group would soon commence enlightenment campaign to all the 484 wards across the 44 local government areas of the state, with a view to sensitising the electorate on the need to ensure that Buhari is re-elected in 2019.
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