…Opposition Leaders Drifting Apart By The Day – Analysts

…Desperate Ambition, Disparate Followers Seen As Drawbacks For Contenders

 

Ahead the 2027 presi­dential race that has already begun to cre­ate tension among the big players, critical stakeholders and analysts have expressed pes­simism over attempts by opposi­tion parties to go into a coalition of forces against the ruling All Progressives Congress led By President Bola Tinubu.

In the opinion of some anal­systs, the strategic meetings by some northern and southern politicians in a deft move to form a new political party to wrest power from Tinubu and the APC is almost looking like a pipe dream on account of the disparate forces involved.

The latest of such meetings was the one held in Abuja few days ago, which included former Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

It would be recalled that Nasir el-Rufai, Hamza Al-Mu­stapha, the ex-aide to the late Sani Abacha, and some others few days ago met in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to “strategise ahead of the 2027 elections.”

The consultative meeting convened by Shehu Gabam, Na­tional Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PDP), was held at the party’s headquarters last Tuesday.

Segun Showunmi, a former spokesperson of the Atiku Abu­bakar Campaign Organisation and many other politicians at­tended the meeting.

In a Facebook post, Showun­mi said the meeting reviewed the state of opposition politics in the country and discussed ways to solidify it.

Also, Abubakar Atiku and Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidates of Peoples Demo­cratic Party and Labour Party, respectively, reportedly met recently. Atiku also reportedly held a meeting with El-Rufai recently.

Hon. Shakirudeen Olofin, former Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and the party’s National Work­ing Committee (NWC) member, who spoke to Sunday Indepen­dent, in his reaction to the on­going moves, stated: “The more the merrier. This is not the first time in the political history of Nigeria that political elites will come together to float a party to wrestle power.

“We saw it in 2011 in Lagos State political terrain that 12 to 15 political parties came togeth­er to form a coalition named COLLASOP to fight the contin­uous dominion of Action Con­gress (AC) in Lagos State.

“Also, we all can remember the coming together of ACN, CPC and NPDP in the forma­tion of All Progressive Congress (APC) in 2014 to wrestle power from PDP.”

Hon. Charles C Anike, Na­tional President, Eastern Union (EU), a socio-political group for the people of the Old Eastern Region, in an interview with Sunday Independent, said: “The alleged plans by some northern and southern politicians to joint­ly float a new political party may not necessarily be the answer.

“The crux of the matter is the willingness of some vested interests to accept to step down and give up their inordinate ambitions.

“Peter Obi single handedly built the Labour Party and won the 2023 Presidential election but was shortchanged by the Independent National Elector­al Commission (INEC) with the supported by the judiciary.

UNITING BEHIND A POPULAR CANDIDATE

“So, please the problem is not to float new party, but if some people with selfish interests can be appeased to surrender their ambitions to support the most popular candidate.”

Tola Oresanwo, an activist and Director of Administra­tion and Programmes, Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), stated: “The plan by some political lead­ers from Nigeria’s northern and southern regions to establish a new political party ahead of the 2027 general elections is a wel­come development as it reflects a growing sentiment that the existing major parties – the rul­ing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) – have not ef­fectively addressed the nation’s challenges, but have rather perpetuated a culture of self-in­terest, mediocrity, and a lack of internal democracy, resulting in persistent issues like poverty, in­security, intra-party wrangling and economic stagnation.

“In as much as I believe that the formation of a new party could introduce fresh perspec­tives and alternatives for Ni­gerian voters, it also presents significant challenges.

“Establishing a party with a truly national appeal requires overcoming regional, ethnic, and religious divides, as well as building a robust organisational structure capable of competing with the well-established APC and PDP.

“Moreover, gaining the trust of the electorate, who have been disappointed and hoodwinked by the manifestos and poor per­formance of various political parties in the past and may be skeptical of new political move­ments, will be crucial.

“Finally, the plan to launch a new political party signifies a de­sire for change and a response to perceived inadequacies in Nige­ria’s current political landscape.

“It is within the fundamental rights of the proponents to asso­ciation. Its success, however, will depend on the ability to build a cohesive, inclusive, and credible alternative that resonates with the aspirations of Nigerians across the country and just like the popular saying, ‘the more, the merrier’ for Nigeria’s polit­ical landscape.”

Professor John Ebhomien, an All Progressives Congress (APC chieftain in Lagos, stated: “The plans by some northern and southern political leaders to float a new party for the 2027 elections is not new.

“We saw it in years past where alliances and defections were done, not for the love and interest of the country, but for their selfish interests. The con­stitution guarantees freedom of association.

“So, the plans by some north­ern and southern political leaders to form a new political platform to wrestle power from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an exercise in futility. Well, let us see how far they can go.

“My candid advice to those northern and southern political leaders is to please look for an­other venture to engage them­selves in.

“They should wait patient­ly until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu completes a second term in office. Nigerians are sick and tired of old and recycle political leaders who have nothing new to offer.”

Apostle Kanayo Success Uchime, a Christian mission­ary, said: “Well, this move by some northern and southern political leaders to jointly float a new political party ahead of 2027 general election is a wel­come development.

“That will be one of the beau­ties of the 2027 elections; it will be a welcomed development. We really need a move away from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Con­gress (APC).

“To me, the two parties have long expired, therefore, the need for a strong viral political party that will bring effective change in our country.

“Political alignment is a normal phenomenon in any democratic setting. I think the impact of that cooperation will be far-reaching considering the level of diversity we have in Ni­geria.”

 

TINUBU HOLDS THE ACE

Julius Adegunna, a media executive, said: “It is nothing new, and nothing is special about that.

“What can be new here is to see the so-called Northern and Southern politicians to have a unity of purpose and action.

“When the chips are down, we may see the differences be­tween the allies playing out.

Besides, the control is still in the hand of President Tinu­bu, who can use the power of incumbency to control the sit­uation.

“If there is evidence of bet­ter performance of his govern­ment, Nigerians may still prefer him to any stranger.

“But, if he cannot improve on Nigeria’s situation, Nigeri­ans may follow the alternative.

“It is not likely the allies may outsmart and displace the rul­ing party. I wish all of them the best of luck.”

Bishop Herbert Ekechukwu, another Christian cleric, stated: “I believe that behind that plan are former Vice President, Alha­ji Atiku Abubakar, the presiden­tial candidate of PDP in 2023, and Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, also in 2023 election

“This is a strategic response to the current political land­scape due to the crisis both in PDP and Labour Party.

“This alliance is a way to cre­ate a stronger opposition force against the ruling party, APC.

“It is also rumoured that the former Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai is part of it. The discussion is sad to have reached advanced stage.

“The real question to ask is: Will this be a game changer in 2027? I very much doubt it.

“We should not underesti­mate the dexterity, cunning and the skilful political acumen of sitting President Bola Ahmad Tinubu. He is always a step ahead of the others.

“This is a man that brought the master game plan that un­seated President Goodluck Jon­athan. Tinubu’s alliance that re­moved Jonathan and brought in President Muhammadu Buhari to power was quite different from this one

“Then, Tinubu worked with sitting governors. He always knows how to get what he wants. The Atiku/Obi alliance is dead on arrival

“Firstly, who will step down for the other? If Obi steps down for Atiku, they will lose majority of the Obidient Movement.

“I don’t see Atiku stepping down for Obi considering his age. 2027 may be his last con­test. He will not fulfill his life ambition of becoming Nigerian president.

“Again Tinubu, unlike Jona­than, has started from his Day One in the office, preparing and scheming for 2027 election. Un­less a miracle happens, I don’t see the force that will unseat him in 2927.

“Moreover, the Nigerian elections do not reflect on the candidates’ performance or par­ties’ manifestos, but in ability to put powerful rigging strategies, from voter registration, party primaries, general elections, Tribunal, to the Supreme Court.

“And again, two years is too short for the new party to make impact. Let us, therefore, wait and watch as matters unfold,”

Rev. Andrews Okhirebhu, a Lagos cleric and public affairs commentator, said: “Well, there are some questions which only answers is just to laugh, laugh and laugh it off.

“It is not necessarily that the question is funny, but, when a critical issue is being down­played overtime, that becomes funny.

“Secondly, there are some questions which can only be answered with questions. The question is: All the political par­ties, including the ruling party, who are the floaters? Where are they from?

“No bird or animal falls into a trap openly set before its eyes. And if the rumour we are hear­ing is true, it simply means the brains of many Nigerian have been mortgage beyond what any man could actually imagine.

“Are we so forgetting how APC was floated? Where have they brought the nation to? Now, who are the major players in the present government?

“Of course, the very persons in the party they told us are cor­rupt and they want to take pow­er from to save the nation and politics. The question is: What is new in recycling or floating?”

Dr Rexkennedy Saltlove, right activist and analyst, stated: “Diversity is the spice of life and that is what makes democracy a beauty of a sort.

“Having various political parties is the beauty of de­mocracy. But what ideology are they coming out with that will be different from the pre­vious or existing parties and make the new party more ap­pealing to sway citizens to vote for them.

“The idea of setting up a new party instead of strengthening existing parties and find a cred­ible candidate to contest is not ideal to me. Such a party may not be able to defeat the current party in power.”

IS THE OPPOSITION IN DISARRAY?

To lend weight to these opin­ions, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) recent­ly expressed grave concerns over the current state of the opposition parties in Nigeria.

With the 2027 general elec­tions fast approaching, the CNPP warned that an oppo­sition in disarray would be no match for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his rul­ing All Progressives Congress (APC).

The CNPP expressed fears that Nigeria might descend into a one-party state if the opposi­tion remained uncoordinated and self-serving.

Comrade James Ezema, the Deputy National Publicity Sec­retary of the CNPP, stated: “The opposition parties are current­ly working at cross-purposes, scheming to undo each other ahead of the 2027 presidential election. This lack of unity and focus is detrimental to the dem­ocratic process and the future of Nigeria.”

The CNPP called on all oppo­sition parties to set aside their differences and work together towards a common goal, saying the future of Nigeria’s democ­racy depended on a strong and united opposition at every point in the electoral process.
(Leadership Newspaper)