Buhari, who was the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 general election and a leading figure in the ongoing merger process of opposition parties, said this yesterday at the national convention of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) held at Onikan Stadium, Lagos.
He said: “This time around we started early to build on the foundation
we laid in 2010. I assure you that all those differences that were of
concern about this party or this system, that the merging of parties in a
democracy is the only solution to political anarchy is this merger.
“We have to come together; the opposition, to make sure that we mobilise our respective constituencies, so that we make it impossible for the ruling party to continue to rig elections in this country.
“We are determined to go down to voting units, to wards, to local governments, to the states and Abuja, at the same time, our constituencies. Nigerians must be respected as a people.”
Also speaking at the convention, the National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, told the party’s delegates from all states of the federation that the coming together of opposition parties to form a formidable political platform was necessary to rescue Nigeria from the brink.
“We have to come together; the opposition, to make sure that we mobilise our respective constituencies, so that we make it impossible for the ruling party to continue to rig elections in this country.
“We are determined to go down to voting units, to wards, to local governments, to the states and Abuja, at the same time, our constituencies. Nigerians must be respected as a people.”
Also speaking at the convention, the National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, told the party’s delegates from all states of the federation that the coming together of opposition parties to form a formidable political platform was necessary to rescue Nigeria from the brink.
He added that there “is no gainsaying that the merger, which has
reached an advanced stage is a fait accompli. The urgent need for change
and the crushing desire to rescue our country from decay compelled us
to act quickly to provide an alternative leadership for Nigeria.
“This endeavour has become necessary given the efforts of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stifle democracy and destroy institutions. We must not surrender to sentiments or blackmail in this enterprise.”
He said the merger of ACN, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) “will yield a bumper harvest. After due deliberation and consultation, the leadership of our party is in the view of the country’s current political realities, convinced that the merger is the way to go.”
“This endeavour has become necessary given the efforts of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stifle democracy and destroy institutions. We must not surrender to sentiments or blackmail in this enterprise.”
He said the merger of ACN, CPC, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) “will yield a bumper harvest. After due deliberation and consultation, the leadership of our party is in the view of the country’s current political realities, convinced that the merger is the way to go.”
In his contribution, the National Leader of ACN, Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
said from 2015 when a general election would be held, the PDP would
become the opposition party, adding that what was needed was sacrifice
from everyone concerned.
“This explains the decision of the leaders of the four political parties to surrender their individual identities to fuse into one party that will be stronger and better positioned to provide good leadership at the national level,” he said.
“This explains the decision of the leaders of the four political parties to surrender their individual identities to fuse into one party that will be stronger and better positioned to provide good leadership at the national level,” he said.
Tinubu stated that for Nigeria to continue as it is, is an invitation
to doom, adding that all prior feats that might have been recorded by
the country would come to nothing unless the present crop of leaders
confront the challenges facing the country.
According to him, “Nigeria must be the country that sets the agenda for economic development and also shares prosperity on the African continent. Instead of holding wealthy domestic produced goods in her basket, the nation holds a virtually empty basket.”
He said: “Everyone must join hands with like minds in the progressive fold who are willing to make the necessary sacrifice to move the nation forward,” adding, “If I must choose between deciding on the existence of the Action Congress of Nigeria and the improvement of Nigeria, I will chose the improvement of Nigeria.”
According to him, “Nigeria must be the country that sets the agenda for economic development and also shares prosperity on the African continent. Instead of holding wealthy domestic produced goods in her basket, the nation holds a virtually empty basket.”
He said: “Everyone must join hands with like minds in the progressive fold who are willing to make the necessary sacrifice to move the nation forward,” adding, “If I must choose between deciding on the existence of the Action Congress of Nigeria and the improvement of Nigeria, I will chose the improvement of Nigeria.”
The former Lagos State governor said Nigeria should have a vast land
transportation system that moves her active energetic population safely,
that moves goods and produce cheaply, adding, however, that instead,
the roads have become portals of death where people perish by the dozens
in one accident after the other.
“Yet those in command do nothing for the average Nigerian who is forced to run this gauntlet of death for his daily crumbs of bread. Instead, those who could improve this situation for the good of all do just enough to make things better for themselves.
“Where the road is bad, they budget for it, still the road gets worse off. Where the road is impassable, they offer excuses and empty promises.
“The touted improvement in electricity supply is now a mirage. In the midst of petrol dollars, an abundance of natural gas, Nigerians are without a commensurate standard of living.
“Our billions are embezzled and shared to cronies. The slogan of the ruling party is ‘Power’, but corruption is the fuel that powers their government,” he said.“I assure you that the place we are going will be your house of political fulfillment. We shall have a meaningful voice in the APC. The principles of democracy, justice, visionary governance and liberty that shaped the ACN shall be carried over into the APC.
“The new party will be as welcome a home as the ACN. It will just be a bigger house for a bigger political family,” he added.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to play the role of an unbiased umpire to ensure that the merger is delivered.
He said playing the role of a true and unbiased umpire in the merger plan would not only be in the interest of the commission to clear itself of any prejudice but also in the national interest as a result of the benefits that would accrue from a successful merger of the parties.
The governor, who recalled that at the start of discussions about the
merger of the parties, there was a posting on the website which
insinuated that the ruling party was colluding with INEC to frustrate
the plan, said it would be in the interest of the commission to prove
that the speculation was untrue.“Yet those in command do nothing for the average Nigerian who is forced to run this gauntlet of death for his daily crumbs of bread. Instead, those who could improve this situation for the good of all do just enough to make things better for themselves.
“Where the road is bad, they budget for it, still the road gets worse off. Where the road is impassable, they offer excuses and empty promises.
“The touted improvement in electricity supply is now a mirage. In the midst of petrol dollars, an abundance of natural gas, Nigerians are without a commensurate standard of living.
“Our billions are embezzled and shared to cronies. The slogan of the ruling party is ‘Power’, but corruption is the fuel that powers their government,” he said.“I assure you that the place we are going will be your house of political fulfillment. We shall have a meaningful voice in the APC. The principles of democracy, justice, visionary governance and liberty that shaped the ACN shall be carried over into the APC.
“The new party will be as welcome a home as the ACN. It will just be a bigger house for a bigger political family,” he added.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to play the role of an unbiased umpire to ensure that the merger is delivered.
He said playing the role of a true and unbiased umpire in the merger plan would not only be in the interest of the commission to clear itself of any prejudice but also in the national interest as a result of the benefits that would accrue from a successful merger of the parties.
According to the governor, “When the discussions about this merger
started, there was an interesting posting on the website that while
ANPP, ACN, CPC and APGA were merging, the ruling party was trying to
merge with the umpire. As insignificant as it seems, it is a serious
issue.”
On the plans of the ruling party for the next elections, Fashola said:
“We are beginning to hear from the ruling party the number of states
that they are going to win even before the dates for the next elections
have been fixed.
“I say that the most successful football club in the world does not know how many goals it will score against its weakest opponent unless it has reached an agreement with the referee.
“As if that was not bad enough, we are already hearing also from them that they will go back to do what they always know how to do best,” Fashola said, adding, “But this time, it will not happen.”
He assured Nigerians that come 2015, APC would provide the “real test of choice for the mythical powers of the ruling party expressed by the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
“I say that the most successful football club in the world does not know how many goals it will score against its weakest opponent unless it has reached an agreement with the referee.
“As if that was not bad enough, we are already hearing also from them that they will go back to do what they always know how to do best,” Fashola said, adding, “But this time, it will not happen.”
He assured Nigerians that come 2015, APC would provide the “real test of choice for the mythical powers of the ruling party expressed by the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
He pointed out that there is a vehicle of choice, “the All Progressives
Congress of Nigeria, let the people of Nigeria come and decide, which
choice, which vehicle, which programmes best articulate their hopes and
aspirations. I believe that the APC will provide that choice.”
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State in his remarks at the event said the four participating parties in the merger were determined to ensure the success of the exercise, adding that despite the pessimism expressed by some Nigerians on the success of the merger, the success of the convention had demonstrated that it is possible and that Nigerians are also committed to change.
The Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, who also spoke at the convention, said its success represented a moment to rejoice for everyone and celebrate the death of unemployment, violence and power failure in Nigeria, adding that the struggle to salvage Nigeria must not commence in 2015 with the general election, but in 2013 with the Anambra State governorship election during which APC must take over the governorship of that state.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State in his remarks at the event said the four participating parties in the merger were determined to ensure the success of the exercise, adding that despite the pessimism expressed by some Nigerians on the success of the merger, the success of the convention had demonstrated that it is possible and that Nigerians are also committed to change.
The Governor of Osun State, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, who also spoke at the convention, said its success represented a moment to rejoice for everyone and celebrate the death of unemployment, violence and power failure in Nigeria, adding that the struggle to salvage Nigeria must not commence in 2015 with the general election, but in 2013 with the Anambra State governorship election during which APC must take over the governorship of that state.
The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, while speaking, said hope
had returned to Nigeria with the successful merger, as the country’s
political landscape would never be the same again, observing that the
PDP should start preparing to be in the opposition from 2015.National
Legal Adviser to the ACN, Dr. Muiz Banire, presided over the
ratifications which the delegates were asked to show their support for
or against the motion by raising their hands.
Officials of INEC were also present to witness the proceedings.
Officials of INEC were also present to witness the proceedings.
Other dignitaries at the occasion included CPC National Chairman, Chief
Tony Momoh; Chairman, ANPP Merger Committee and former Kano State
Governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau; former Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji
Garba Gadi; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; former
House of Representatives member from Kogi State, Dino Melaye; former
Ekiti State Governor, Niyi Adebayo; Senator Abu Ibrahim, Edo State
Governor, Adams Oshiohmole; one-time Chairman of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and ACN’s presidential candidate in
the 2011 election, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and several other politicians.
They all expressed commitment to the merger and optimism that the party will make great incursions into Nigeria's political terrain in 2015.
They all expressed commitment to the merger and optimism that the party will make great incursions into Nigeria's political terrain in 2015.
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