Labour Party don talk say the proposal wey Atiku Abubakar, wey be Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate for 2023, talk about merger good and e make sense. But New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) talk say dem fit only gree if Atiku go support former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to run for president and try remove the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for 2027.
The main opposition parties talk dis one as response to Atiku call on Tuesday say make opposition parties join hand waka comot APC from power. Atiku yan dis one when e meet with the National Executive Committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria.
Atiku, wey be former Vice President talk say make opposition parties join together so that dem no go make Nigeria turn to one-party country. E talk say, “We don see how APC dey turn Nigeria to dictatorship of one party. If we no join hand challenge wetin ruling party dey try do, our democracy go suffer, and the wahala go reach generations wey never born.”
For one interview wey The PUNCH do on Wednesday, acting National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh talk say Atiku call good and every Nigerian suppose reason am.
Ifoh talk say, “Atiku call na good thing wey every Nigerian suppose reason well because e go helep remove the Octopus wey dey power now as dem no be democrats. Every Nigerian like make true democracy dey, but the one wey dey ground now no be democracy. So, if opposition wan use proposal to make sure say democracy dey, why not? We go reason am well. Anything wey go make Nigerians see true democracy, we go gree.”
But NNPP talk say Atiku call na emotional talk and e be like medicine after death. The party National Publicity Secretary, Yakubu Shendam yan say if dem go consider merger, e suppose be to support Kwankwaso to become President. If not, NNPP no dey interested.
Shendam yan say, “Na like medicine after death. If we go join hand, e suppose no be based on emotions. We go do am because we get person wey fit takeover Nigeria. We believe say Kwankwaso fit deliver Nigeria in 2027.
“But no mean say we no dey find people like Atiku wey fit join our party. If we go join, e suppose be with NNPP because Atiku go soon retire, so e suppose support Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
“We no dey ready to join people wey dey do things based on emotions, but we dey okay as a party with person like Rabiu Kwankwaso as our leader. We dey call on Atiku as elder brother to join hands with Kwankwaso if e wan dey relevant for 2027.”
Meanwhile, the ruling APC talk say Atiku call no shake dem at all. APC Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, talk say, “Why we go shake? Atiku don go court and court don put am for one side. In fact, Atiku and hin party no get power to threaten APC, especially a progressive party.”