A leading member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osita Okechukwu, has dismissed calls by some opposition politicians for a merger to oust the ruling party.
Okechukwu specifically faulted the agitation by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and a member of the Labour Party (LP), Pat Utomi, for a merger ahead of the 2027 general election.
Atiku, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, has been championing the call for a coalition among the main opposition parties.
Two days ago, the former vice president, in a message to congratulate Senegalese President-Elect Bassirou Faye, urged all opposition parties to “forge a coalition that is formidable enough to oust the ruling party if the salvaging of Nigeria is to stand any chance.”
But in a statement Sunday, Mr Okechukwu said the circumstances on the ground that will make it possible for opposition political parties to forge a formidable coalition to oust the APC like the PDP was defeated in 2015 differ remarkably.
“Secondly, dethroning an incumbent president should not be a political pastime, but as a practical political consciousness to remove an underperforming administration,” he stated.
He stated that the difference in the socioeconomic situation of Nigeria between 2015 and 2024 is clear, adding that while in 2015, Nigeria lost focus, today, despite the socio-economic hardship, both the international and local communities agree that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has courage, vision and focus.
Okechukwu stated: “Yes, my understanding is that Atiku was referring to the current socio-economic hardship, but the truth is that whether you like it or not President Tinubu has focus. In 2015, under President Goodluck Jonathan, there was little or no hope.
“Luckily, Mr President has with his economic reforms, won the confidence of the international community. All he needs is to domesticate his economic programme to benefit the greatest number of Nigerians.”
Okechukwu said he believes that a formidable opposition coalition is healthy for Nigeria’s democracy, however, it is incumbent on Atiku, Utomi and others to convince Nigerians on which economic philosophy the coalition would be anchored.
“Nigerians know that all the leading presidential candidates in 2023 were all neo-liberals. For instance, like Tinubu, Atiku and Obi agreed to remove fuel subsidy and to harmonise the foreign exchange rate.
“Since they all belong to the neo-liberal school of thought and are capitalists, they better support Mr President, because the success of Tinubu’s economic reforms is better for such students more than those of us who subscribe to the belief that government has business in our welfare.” (Premium Times)
