*Adopt coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP)
*Alliance backs consensus presidential candidate
*Obasanjo attends, provides venue for PDP rally in Ogun
*Why his coalition of 42 parties is a pack of jokers – Nigerians
*Guide Federal Govt how to prevent rebellion by desperados ahead 2019
By Bashir Adefaka
“Go ahead and deal with them. They have nothing working for them with all of these ‘42 parties’ that their one single party PDP of same folks under same umbrella has scattered into before now coming together except that they rely on causing confusion to discredit the government, the security agencies and the INEC so that even if Buhari wins again, they will cause conflicts in the land like the days of the Orubebeism. It must not be allowed to happen,” he said.
The continued denial by Senate President Bukola Saraki of his involvement in the anti-party activities of his nPDP working with opposition to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 may have now heat the point of unacceptability.
This is because, The DEFENDER gathered, even Nigerians who are not partisan figures are saying that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be telling them that they have eyes but cannot see with the open hostility of the Saraki against the governing party and its government, which they said came to its peak Monday with the attendance of all Saraki men including Senator Dino Melaye at a meeting with People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and 39 more parties’ politicians who met in Abuja simply to agree on how to unseat the President.
PDP’s national chairman, Uche Secondus, signing the MoU of new coalition party, CUPP, in Abuja, on Monday.
The PDP in collaboration with Saraki-led nPDP now metamorphosed into R-APC, a rebel group the APC had declared to be on its own, Olu Falae-led SDP, Action Democratic Party (ADP), Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) and 36 other political parties on Monday signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to field a single presidential candidate to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari at the election.
Although the coalition appears to be of many parties, they are all parties formed following discontent with PDP but now coming together, it was gathered, because they believe they have a common enemy in President Muhammadu Buhari.
It is therefore uncertain if after the February 2019 they will be able to remain together either in success or failure.
This crop of opposition parties were gathering just as some Nigerians, who respectively chose not to be identified, told The DEFENDER wondering how a coalition involving former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his former deputy, Atiku Abubakar would not be realistic.
One of them said, “Just look at this, they are so unrealistic. They so much believe that they have killed enough people, caused enough economic sabotage including hikes in food prices in the market, stacked enough money in dollars and kept away from circulation to cause hardship in the land to discredit Buhari in the eyes of Nigerians ahead of the 2019 presidential elections. That is why they are so much sure and people like Bukola Saraki want to risk political death the way they are going. But I just laugh because they are nothing but a pack of jokers, he expressed.
At the Monday’s meeting where Dino Melaye, who only on Sunday was described as a liability and unsellable person that PDP must not gamble with as senatorial candidate of the party in Kogi West for next election, was seen in what has been described as self-mockery displays, some members of the alliance also suggested that the gesture of fielding a unity candidate at the presidential level should also be replicated for governorship and other positions across the country.
Recall that the move by these political parties to form alliance had been in the political space in the past weeks. Part of this plan, according to a report of this online newspaper, was the dumping of APC by Hakeem Baba-Ahmed but who did not relinquish his position as Chief of Staff to the a man who continues to claim he’s member of APC as Senate President. Their agenda, it was gathered, was to present a joint candidate in 2019 to unseat President Muhammadu Buhari.
The National Chairman of ADC, Chief Okey Nwosu, had last week reportedly said that the arrangement would be made public soon, adding that members of the alliance would definitely accept the decisions of eminent statesmen as, according to him, the nation is presently overwhelmed with problems.
The other political parties, which signed the MoU are: Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), C4C, Democratic Alternative (DA), Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), Equity and Progress, GDPN, Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Kowa Party, Forward Ever, Mass Action Joint Alliance, Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Service and Progress.
Also signed the MoU are: National Conscience Party (NCP), New Generation Party (NGP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), NIP, NDCP, Peoples Alliance for National Development & Liberty (PANDL), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Providence People’s Congress (PPC), RBNP, Restoration Party of Nigeria, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Young Democratic Party (YDP) and All Grassroots Alliance (AGA).
The parties MoU read by Tom Ikimi said. “The parties shall work together to ensure the emergence of a joint presidential candidate of which modalities for this collegiate process shall be under a separate agreement by the parties.
“The parties shall promote a positive reaction to the above listed failures of the present regime and to give hope to all our people. The parties shall ensure that the coalition is committed to working together in support of the single presidential candidate to contest the 2019 presidential election in order to successfully enthrone a true democrat who will salvage the nation from the misrule of the APC government.
“The parties shall promote acceptable core values for the restructuring of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, secure lives and property, rebuild and redirect our nation’s economy back onto the part of growth, respect human rights and freedoms, protect and uphold the cherished values of democracy and the democratic institutions and generally put right the country which unfortunately has now been dangerously divided along ethnic, religious and tribal lines.
“The parties shall encourage state alliance between themselves to ensure that the cooperating parties under the grand alliance emerge victorious at state governorship, state legislature and National Assembly elections.
“The parties accept the policy of zoning political and elective offices between the six geopolitical zones of the federation. The parties shall ensure that the emergent president under the grand alliance shall treat the presentation of an executive Bill on restructuring and devolution of power to the National Assembly a major priority.
“The parties shall ensure that the leadership in the National Assembly initiates its own process to enable a Bill on restructuring and devolution of power if this become necessary.”
Those, who spoke at the grand alliance, which came under the aegis of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) took President Buhari and the APC to the cleaners, describing them as failure.
In his welcome address, Sen. Ben Obi boasted that the coalition will usher in a government of national unity, to rescue the nation from imminent collapse.
He lamented that the APC government has completely destroyed the economy and scared away investors, adding that “we are here to correct the history.
“We are here to form a government that will protect the lives and property of its citizens. We are here to rescue the country from nepotism.
“Every day they make efforts to silence the opposition and muscle the media. We are here to end their ineptitude and provide solution. They have muscled the three arms of government making democratic institutions inactive.”
He said that if they failed to put this in the right perspective, “even the unborn generation will not forgive us. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to rescue this nation. It is a war between light and darkness and the light will prevail over darkness.”
Speaking on behalf of Social Democratic Party (SDP), while Olagunsoye Oyinlola said that the assignment is from God and should be taken seriously, Olu Falae, the National Chairman of the party, lamented that incompetence, selfishness and lack of direction has been the bane of the nation since APC took over government.
Oyinlola said: “Beyond enthroning a new government, the key point of the MoU is to restructure the country. This is the last opportunity for all to rescue the country.
“The MoU is a water shed in the quest to redirect the affairs of this country. Insecurity has become the order of the day, while the government is lost and continues to pass the buck in a ridiculous manner. We must ensure that we come together to ensure that our country, Nigeria, is in good shape. This is an assignment from God which must be taken very seriously and with sincerity of purpose. The APC failed and it failed woefully and that makes it imperative that we must do things differently.”
Falae on the other hand, said: “Most Nigerians are distressed because of the situation of the country. Incompetence, selfishness and lack of direction has been the bane of this country and we have no option than to form this coalition. I will like my party to produce the next president, but as things are now, we cannot afford to dissipate energy. All our vote must go to the candidate from this coalition so that all our votes will go to our candidate in every election. We must ensure that ambition does not destroy this alliance. We must make sacrifices to get this alliance working.”
The Chairman of R-APC, Buba Galadima, said that the alliance will send shivers down the spins of the ruling party, adding that Buhari will fail in 2019.
“Buhari will not only lose the election but also lose his deposit. We are prepared and prepared to take up this fight in spite of all deprivation and even torture, because this country belongs to all of us. We are prepared to lay down our lives for this great country.
“If we are fair to ourselves, do things transparently and bring out one man or woman, we shall save the country for ourselves and our children. This is not going to be easy, this is not going to be a tea party, because the person that we shall be facing is an army general but I know him. If I were his advisers, I will advise him not to run.”
Senator Dino Melaye and Abubakar Baraje of nPDP, who have formally joined PDP appreciated the PDP for taking them back.
Melaye said: “APC will lose power in 2019. I assure that President Muhammadu Buhari is entitled to failure and in 2019 he will fail,” this is even as Baraje said, “we were led astray,” thanking PDP for taking them back after years of hopeless political sojourn.
Yinusa Tanko of National Conscience Party said that APC government is full of all kinds of impunity, segregation and worse, “Nigerian are being killed on the street more than before. This is a war between the have and have nots and Nigerian people will win.”
While Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, who spoke on behalf of the governors, said that honesty and sincerity must be separated from politics, and the coalition must hold truth as truth and not politics. The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, lamented the level the Buhari led government has reduced the nation to.
This is even as the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, tasked all to join hands to rescue this country collectively, adding, “Our destiny is in our hands, no one will do it for you, you will do it yourselves. Our fore fathers came together to fight for their rights, so you are to fight for your rights, from intimidation, harassment, killing and conquest. Nigerians are waiting for you to come and vote out this government.”
Those who were present at the signing of the MoU are Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia; Bafarrawa, Sule Lamido, Bode George, Ahmed Makarafi, Captain Wada, Ibrahim Idris, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Amb. Wali Jibrin, Senator David Mark, Chief Enenche Okon, Tom Ikimi, Raymond Dokpesi, Ike Ekweremadu, Godswill Akpabio, Liyel Imoke and a host of others.
Obasanjo attends PDP rally
In a related occasion, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday made a surprise appearance at the mega rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Attendance of Obasanjo at the PDP rally was not a surprise because he is believed generally to be the arrowhead of the whole coalition of 42 parties that met in Abuja same day, while the coalition now formed into one party, CUPP, is believed to simply be the coming together of all discontent PDP members of the past who had gone to form those parties now reunioning against “but not for Nigeria but for themselves”, it was gathered.
The former president, who now lives within the Obasanjo Presidential Library facilities, arrived at the rally about 4:50p.m and caused stir as he made his way to greet the members and supporters of the party he once publicly tore his membership card of at the venue.
Many supporters, who were at the event since early in the morning, quickly abandoned their stands to catch a glimpse of the former president who, it was gathered, provided the open space for the rally against three other considered venues.
Obasanjo, who is the promoter of the African Democratic Party (ADC), however, disappeared from the scene before too many people would gather to see him.
It would be recalled that the former president, who tore his membership card of the party in February 2015, said he had since dropped partisan politics and adopted the status of a statesman.
It would be noted that the former president provided the auditorium of the library for a faction of the party led by a member of House of Representatives, Ladi Adebutu, in November 2017 when the party elected factional leadership of the party.
While addressing the supporters, Adebutu, who is also a governorship aspirant of the party ahead of the 2019 election, acknowledged the former president for his presence at the party.
According to him, the former president cannot forget the party that gave him a platform from where he served two terms of four years as the president.
He also informed the supporters that the former president midwifed the Memorandum of Understanding between PDP and 33 other parties to form an alliance aimed at unseating President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Why Obasanjo-led coalition of 42 parties is a joke – Nigerians
“They should have even asked themselves, ‘Are we really serious? When this guy wanted to fight our 16 years government, he teamed up with some people in four political parties; his own CPC, Tinubu’s ACN, Onu’s ANPP, and a faction of APGA. Yes, an nPDP from our own party later joined them which could have made them the five parties only that defeated us. Are we not ridiculous that even with our 41-party coalition the guy is not shaking?’ They do not sit down and ask themselves these questions.”
When told about further political tactics like killings and further squeezing of public to further discredit the President to give them more strength, he said, “Let me tell you, politicians are like unreasoning animals. There is no other economic hardship, chaos or killings they want to sponsor or cause in the land that will be stranger than Nigerians have seen, blamed Buhari for but which they have now always seen as not Buhari’s fault but the fault of the politicians desperate to return to power despite their open corruption and selfishness.
“You see, they had chances of misleading the international community about Buhari government and they used it well telling the world he is nepotic putting only Northerners in his appointment, he is Islamising killing all Christians, he does not love Nigerian youths calling them lazy, he does not know economy failing in all his policies. What did they get in the end? Big shame because, the world, rather than believing them including the hitherto respected Obasanjo, invited Buhari at different points in time, praised him publicly and supported with the kind of supports they never gave to any Nigerian President dead of alive.
“Obasanjo was the President that told us about Abacha loot. If you believe Abacha actually looted and the money you found in those Swiss accounts were not his money, what stopped you from taking the money back to Nigeria if you were sincere? But no problem, it is Abacha loot. For 16 years they could not get it back to Nigeria but under three years Buhari’s character and enigmatic nature as a specially created being attracted the love and respect of those world leaders and they are now, not only returning Abacha loot but also, are helping the country make it difficult for any Nigeria’s current looters from last administration to the present to feel good in their countries.
“Their hypocrisies are noted by the international communities and now they are not popular anywhere in the world. During Jonathan era, the world invited Olusegun Obasanjo to do most of the things a sitting President should do on behalf of his country. But under Buhari, he is the Leader of Africa’s Anti-Corruption Fight, he is in the global arena being made to address great nations of the world about anti-insurgency and security, peace, economy and anti-corruption. Buhari in the eyes of the globe is an unputdownable ideology.
“It is in the view of all of these great achievements only in three years against their 16 years that they are so agitated, much afraid that it will require the coming together of more than just five parties to defeat him. But even if they have all the Nigeria’s registered parties aside APC to themselves, can they defeat Buhari? The answer is NO!
“They no longer have the security they used to coax people into do-or-die voting. They no longer control the INEC that helped them announce figures written in the President’s or governor’s room. They no longer have the NTA and Radio Nigeria to work for their evil propaganda and the Nigeria Police is not with them. All of these agencies now are in safe hands that have been using them constitutionally and judiciously in going to about five state elections in three years. So, how do they want to defeat Buhari and his party?
“The only thing they can do is to cause nationwide crisis like they did with Mike Orubebe which was foiled by Prof. Attahiru Jega’s exceptional and watchful patience and, at that point, if the government of the day cannot close its eyes and be ruthless with them even before they execute it in a country where satan also has followers, with all the security reports this government has through now sophisticated, patriotic intelligence gathering, then the APC and the government should hold themselves responsible for whatever they got, God forbid, anyway. The Buhari government and APC should know that many of those predictions by church leaders are a part of the designs of the evil politicians. They predict and then their political sponsors work towards actualizing their doom prophecies.
“No NGO’s concocted human rights reports or media fake news irritation should be taken with levity because government cannot open its eyes and let NGOs and media working for enemies of Nigeria run the country down in its own time with their invented reports and fake news. No religious or ethnic misbehaviour should be tolerated. In dealing with Satan you don’t show mercy. Ruthlessness is the game!
“Go ahead and deal with them. They have nothing working for them with all of these ‘42 parties’ that their one single party PDP of same folks under same umbrella has scattered into before now coming together except that they rely on causing confusion to discredit the government, the security agencies and the INEC so that even if Buhari wins again, they will cause conflicts in the land like the days of the Orubebeism. It must not be allowed to happen,” he said.
