The Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) have reacted to Atiku Abubakar’s merger proposal.
Recall that Atiku, while hosting the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, proposed that opposition parties merger to dislodge the APC from power.
Atiku said: “We have all seen how the APC is increasingly turning Nigeria into a dictatorship of one party. If we don’t come together to challenge what the ruling party is trying to create, our democracy will suffer for it, and the consequences of it will affect the generations yet unborn.”
While reacting to the proposal in a recent interview with The Punch, the acting National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, described Atiku’s proposal as a good preposition that should be considered by every Nigerian.
Ifoh said: “Atiku’s call is a proposition, and every Nigeria will consider a good proposition that is meant to remove the Octopus in power because they are not democrats.
“Every Nigerian is interested in having a true democracy. What we have now is far away from democracy. So, if there is a preposition by opposition elements to ensure that democracy is installed, why not? That preposition must be given a good thought. Anything that will make Nigerians witness democracy is accepted.”
Meanwhile, the New Nigeria People’s Party said it could only accept the proposal if Atiku would back former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress in 2027.
The NNPP described Atiku’s proposal as emotional and medicine after death.
NNPPs National Publicity Secretary, Yakubu Shendam, said any merger being considered must be to support Kwankwaso to become President, otherwise, the NNPP was not interested.
He said: “This is like medicine after death. If there is any future collaboration, it should not be as a result of emotions. We are going all along because we have a gladiator who has the capacity to take over Nigeria.
“We believe that there is a need to canvass for support from people to win the election, from all sides. However, we believe that single-handedly Kwankwaso can deliver Nigeria in 2027.
“But that doesn’t mean that we are not looking for players like Atiku to join our party. If there is going to be a merger, it should be with the NNPP, because Atiku is now retiring, so, he should support Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“We don’t want to join forces with people who are under emotions but we are comfortable as a party having a person like Rabiu Kwankwaso, as our national leader. We are calling on Atiku as an elder brother to close ranks with Kwankwaso if he wants to be relevant in 2027.”
