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16/03/2025
"Since his name was also dropped from the ministerial list after attending screening at the Senate, El-Rufai has been predictably bitter. He said the distance between him and APC was widening.
At the recent national conference on strengthening democracy, he attacked the Tinubu administration, describing the current state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
He alleged lack of internal democracy within the APC, declaring that “mo party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.” El-Rufai added: “You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today. The problems that led to the formation of the APC remained unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them.”
"Obi distanced himself from any proposed coalition with the PDP, saying: “I’m not interested in coalition for the purpose of power grabbing.”
The former Anambra governor noted that past moves to evolve a coalition have been reduced to an exercise for power grabbing. He wondered why political leaders would allow the country to collapse in their desperation for political power.
Obi said: “I am not interested in any coalition for the purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria, how we care about securing Nigeria, about the common people and their education. That is the most important thing in Nigeria for now.”
More than Kwankwaso, Obi appears to be in a precarious situation. He is leaning on LP, a borrowed platform. The party is not in a position to respond to an offer of alliance. It is divided and weakened by leadership tussle between the national chairman. Julius Abure, and the National Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.
The Obidient Movement, which is the main pillar and strength of Obi, has no footing in the party. Its members are scattered and not coordinated. There is nothing that can actually attract them to PDP.
Besides, there is a clash of ambitions and egos. As an observer queried: “Can Atiku, who will be 81 years old in 2027, step down for Obi? Can he make the sacrifice? What would be the reaction of his followers?
“Can Obi accept to be Atiku’s running mate again? Would that not be infuriating to the obedients who would demand nothing less than a presidential ticket? In the power sharing deal, what would be the place of the Kano power broker, Kwankwaso?
SDP as merger springboard
The current SDP contrasts sharply with the defunct Third Republic formidable SDP, which served as platform for the 1993 presidential ambition of the late Chief Moshood Abiola. Thus, according to analysts, the handlers of the SDP only indulge in name dropping by conveying the impression that it is an incarnate of the banned party.
Since its birth under this dispensation, SDP has not been able to spring any surprise. Like the LP, it has largely been a borrowed platform, often hired by aggrieved politicians from the two leading parties – APC and PDP.
In Yobe, protesting APC members have taken refuge in the party. In Ondo State, former Minister Dr. Olu Agunloye has been holding fort in the party. In Kogi State, it was adopted by an APC defector, Muritala Ajaka, for the last governorship election. In Osun State, it was the party that once accomodated PDP followers of Senator Iyiola Omisore. In Ekiti State, it was used as goverorship platform by Segun Oni, an engineer and former PDP governor. Before that election, a PDP elder and former Education Minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, sought refuge in the party.
However, the temporary chieftains of SDP returned to their former parties.
The most prominent SDP chieftain in the country today is Adebayo Adewole, a lawyer and businessman, who was its presidential candidate in 2023.
He received the news of El-Rufai’s defection with a mixture of excitement and reservations. The Ondo-born politician described the former Kaduna State governor as a man of strength and weaknesses. He said the defector has to work on his weaknesses.
Part of the weaknesses has led to the perception of El-Rufai’s as a symbol of ethnic and religious bigotry in a plural country, whose previous remarks have sparked tension."
Let's have your comments below:
extract source: https://thenationonlineng.net/...
Coalition of The Aggrieved, Current Lossers or Otherwise? Can they be trusted?
16/03/2025
"Since his name was also dropped from the ministerial list after attending screening at the Senate, El-Rufai has been predictably bitter. He said the distance between him and APC was widening.
At the recent national conference on strengthening democracy, he attacked the Tinubu administration, describing the current state of governance and opposition in the country as a “national emergency.”
He alleged lack of internal democracy within the APC, declaring that “mo party organ has met in two years—no caucus, no NEC, nothing. You don’t even know if it is a one-man show; it’s a zero-man show.” El-Rufai added: “You cannot afford to have illiterates, semi-illiterates, and cunning people as your leaders. This is why we end up with the poor leadership we have today. The problems that led to the formation of the APC remained unresolved, but I no longer believe the APC is interested in addressing them.”
"Obi distanced himself from any proposed coalition with the PDP, saying: “I’m not interested in coalition for the purpose of power grabbing.”
The former Anambra governor noted that past moves to evolve a coalition have been reduced to an exercise for power grabbing. He wondered why political leaders would allow the country to collapse in their desperation for political power.
Obi said: “I am not interested in any coalition for the purpose of taking power. It is about discussing Nigeria, how we care about securing Nigeria, about the common people and their education. That is the most important thing in Nigeria for now.”
More than Kwankwaso, Obi appears to be in a precarious situation. He is leaning on LP, a borrowed platform. The party is not in a position to respond to an offer of alliance. It is divided and weakened by leadership tussle between the national chairman. Julius Abure, and the National Caretaker Committee chairman, Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.
The Obidient Movement, which is the main pillar and strength of Obi, has no footing in the party. Its members are scattered and not coordinated. There is nothing that can actually attract them to PDP.
Besides, there is a clash of ambitions and egos. As an observer queried: “Can Atiku, who will be 81 years old in 2027, step down for Obi? Can he make the sacrifice? What would be the reaction of his followers?
“Can Obi accept to be Atiku’s running mate again? Would that not be infuriating to the obedients who would demand nothing less than a presidential ticket? In the power sharing deal, what would be the place of the Kano power broker, Kwankwaso?
SDP as merger springboard
The current SDP contrasts sharply with the defunct Third Republic formidable SDP, which served as platform for the 1993 presidential ambition of the late Chief Moshood Abiola. Thus, according to analysts, the handlers of the SDP only indulge in name dropping by conveying the impression that it is an incarnate of the banned party.
Since its birth under this dispensation, SDP has not been able to spring any surprise. Like the LP, it has largely been a borrowed platform, often hired by aggrieved politicians from the two leading parties – APC and PDP.
In Yobe, protesting APC members have taken refuge in the party. In Ondo State, former Minister Dr. Olu Agunloye has been holding fort in the party. In Kogi State, it was adopted by an APC defector, Muritala Ajaka, for the last governorship election. In Osun State, it was the party that once accomodated PDP followers of Senator Iyiola Omisore. In Ekiti State, it was used as goverorship platform by Segun Oni, an engineer and former PDP governor. Before that election, a PDP elder and former Education Minister, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, sought refuge in the party.
However, the temporary chieftains of SDP returned to their former parties.
The most prominent SDP chieftain in the country today is Adebayo Adewole, a lawyer and businessman, who was its presidential candidate in 2023.
He received the news of El-Rufai’s defection with a mixture of excitement and reservations. The Ondo-born politician described the former Kaduna State governor as a man of strength and weaknesses. He said the defector has to work on his weaknesses.
Part of the weaknesses has led to the perception of El-Rufai’s as a symbol of ethnic and religious bigotry in a plural country, whose previous remarks have sparked tension."
Let's have your comments below:
extract source: https://thenationonlineng.net/...