By ‘Dotun Akintomide
Members of the ‘New PDP,’ one of the fragments that merged to form the APC may likely dump the ruling party to embrace the newly formed African Democratic Congress (ADC) following the coalescence of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) into a new party Thursday.
The New Diplomat learnt that former president Olusegun Obasanjo has been courting members of the ‘New PDP’ who are already crying foul over how they are being marginalized within the APC after helping the party to clinch power in 2015.
According to a source, “the in-thing is that if the political heavyweights who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in 2013 could be convinced to join force with Ex-President Obasanjo, the newly formed party will never be a pushover in next year’s general election, thereby becoming the game changer ultimately.”
It would be recalled that members of the New PDP comprised of former governors of Sokoto, Aliyu Wamakko; Kano, Rabiu Kwankwaso; Kwara, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Adamawa, Murtala Nyako and Rivers, Rotimi Amaechi.
Others include former governors of Kebbi, Adamu Aliero; Gombe, Danjuma Goje; Osun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former acting National Chairman of PDP, Abubakar Baraje and a ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal among others.
The source further said “this might have inspired the choice of Oyinlola as one of the co-conveners of the CNM to lure other members of the nPDP into believing in the Obasanjo’s third force which has now snowballed into a new political party.”
On Thursday, the Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CNM) founded by Obasanjo, confirmed the fusion of itself into African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The leadership of the coalition touted to be Obasanjo’s third force while making the pronouncement in Abuja Thursday, explained that with this development, CNM has ceased to exist, having formally collapsed into a political party
In Oyinlola’s words: “We have said it before and we are stating it here again that the current state of despair and despondency in our dear country is an ill wind.
“It is foreboding and can only lead to a conflagration. Between January when CNM was formed and now, can we say that the story of Nigeria has changed for the better? Have things not worsened at all levels?
“I thank all of you for being here today. You will all recall that in January this year, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, was formed by some of us across the country as a political platform to create a new generation of leaders for our country.
“Between that time and today, a lot of grounds has been covered in achieving the set goals. One of such is what we are doing here today – the formal fusing of – our movement into the African Democratic Congress.
“As we stated in January during the launch of the CNM, we are taking on this task not minding the inconveniences and other expected and unexpected consequences of our efforts at reinventing the country.
“We admit that structural inadequacies and failure of leadership have robbed our country of greatness. We also note that a future of greatness for Nigeria will only be birthed by a new generation of youthful leaders with fresh ideas and knowledge of what it takes to govern a 21 st century nation.
“While I on behalf of the leadership and the over three million members of the CNM congratulate ADC as the vehicle for national reinvention, I urge us to let us know that the task ahead is an arduous one that needs further strengthening of the forces of change. What I am saying is that we should be open to new engagements and alliances being forged and crystallizing across the country,” he said.
