Yesterday, the Peoples Democratic Party and 39 other parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.
Out of the blues and without any warning, the major opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with about 39 other parties, the first of its kind in the nation’s political history.
The sole purpose of the alliance, according to the MOU, is to produce a joint Presidential candidate capable of winning the election and enthroning a new government at the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2019.
Former Acting National Secretary of the PDP, Sen. Ben Obi who spoke after the signing of the MoU, said the various parties chose to come together to salvage the nation and put to an end all semblance of nepotism and tribalism.
According to him, the present administration has left Nigerians more divided than they were in 2015. “We are here to begin a process that will lead to the formation of a government of national unity. We are here to put to an end the nepotism and corruption that the APC government has been known for in the past three years,” he said.
The alliance is to work under the name Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP).
The Next Edition spoke to prominent Nigerians and top politicians on their reactions to the alliance.
The Presidential aspirant of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, in his reaction to the alliance said, what Nigerians needed now was a paradigm shift and not a coalition of party for effective change in 2019. “We note the MoU signed yesterday by the PDP and about 30 other parties. It is a legitimate move in a democracy. But the real question remains: what does our country need now? We need a paradigm shift in governance. A regrouping of the booted out PDP and members of the failed APC will not achieve that. Things are falling apart and the centre cannot hold. The shifting allegiances of the same old faces and the same old career politicians will mean the same old problems for Nigeria.”
According to him, “our long-suffering masses need something new, something different, and something bold if we have truly learnt the lessons of 2015. Remember: another coalition brought the APC into the presidency. With the PDP-led MoU and the disastrous performance of the APC, the path is now open for a real transformative third force and generational shift, which a Kingsley Moghalu presidency would represent for Nigeria.”
Prof. Moghalu used the opportunity to reiterate his desire and preparedness “to heal our country and build a nation, to move our masses from poverty and unemployment to jobs and prosperity, and restore our standing in the world.” Noting that “the politicians have always won,” he said, “It is time for the people to win in 2019.”
Prof. Remi Sonaiya, an aspirant with the KOWA party, would rather wait and see how events unfold. “Let’s say we hope it won’t be one of strange bedfellows. Do they share common values and practices? We’ll have to wait and see how things pan out. For example, how will they choose their common candidates? Based on what criteria? We’ll watch with keen interest,” she said.
For the former Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Nduese Essien, the signing of MoU brings to a head the disenchantment of Nigerian. His words, “the unification of almost 40 political parties at this time is an indication that most Nigerians are disenchanted with the APC government and have seemingly come together to end its rule and restore Nigeria to the good days.
“We know that the government will likely clamp down on the leaders of the political parties and some powerful individuals who are likely to influence the outcome of the forthcoming elections. We have noticed already that the APC leadership has been jittery since the emergence of the Reformed-APC. The government has started intimidating in the hope of making the dissident members return to the ruling party. In the coming weeks and months, the level of harassment will increase but that would not stop the people from standing up against the ruling party.”
The former minister said it was very doubtful that President Buhari and the APC could stand the onslaught that was being jointly launched by all the political parties. According to him, besides political groups, some socio-cultural groups have also decided not to support the APC and President Buhari in the next election.
“You can even see that leaders from Southern Nigeria, irrespective of their political leanings are not happy with the administration. The Middle-Belt leaders have also teamed up with their Southern counterpart and this is going to pose a serious challenge to the APC’s attempt to return to Aso Rock in 2019,” he said.
An APC Chieftain and former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Olawale Oshun, speaking with The Next Edition in a telephone interview, dismissed the coalition by opposition parties against the APC, saying it was not a threat. Here him; “What we are witnessing is political party evolution. This is not the first time it is happening. It has happened before and it will continue to happen. It is good for democracy. I am only worried about the intention of those behind it. They move from one party to another for their selfish ambitions. Well, the APC is strong enough to withstand any challenge. We are well positioned for 2019. There is no cause for alarm.”
On his twitter handle, Mr. Reno Omokri, former assistant to former President Jonathan Goodluck, endorsed the signing of the MoU. “I commend PDP for signing a memorandum of understanding with R-APC and other parties to present a consensus candidate for the 2019 Presidential election. This is the unity of the opposition people of conscience have been waiting for , without which victory would be hard.”
Also taking to his twitter handle, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said, “It’s great to be reunited as one big and better PDP family. The journey to get Nigeria working again has gotten further boost with the coalition of like minded democratic leaders and parties.”
According to Mr. Jasper Azuatalam, a member of the APC Board of Trustees, the CUPP is made up of mushroom parties. He is of the view of that the coalition was dead on arrival. “I have gone through the list of the parties that make up the so-called coalition. Most of the parties are not registered,” he said.
Read also: Youth Votes Must Count – INEC, Omotola, Basketmouth, AY
Asked how he feels about the Reformed APC joining the coalition, he replied “Who are members of the reformed APC? Look, we are not worried. There is nothing to be worried about. And that is why the party has not reacted.”
Mr. Ndiana Abasi Nana Udom, an aspirant for Ukanafun Federal House Constituency, believes the coalition has come at the right time. “I think it’s good timing. It’s obvious Nigerians have agreed that Buhari should be kicked out no matter what it takes because of the state of things. For this many political parties to come together and agree, it is a good thing. I think it’s very important.”
