From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Immediate past national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Okey Nwosu, has defended the decision to handover his party to the National Opposition Coalition Group (NOCG), hinging it on mission to rescue the country.
Nwosu who spoke in his handover remarks at the event to formally transfer power to the coalition force, revealed that the process started over 18 months ago, adding that former military heads of State, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida played crucial roles in the transition.
According to Nwosu, “Our beloved country, tragically, is in an ICU, hungry, hemorrhaging and gasping for breath. Our mortuaries are overflowing with bodies that families are poverty stricken to claim. Our roads, farmlands are death traps. Just look around you, the insecurity has metastasised, kidnapping and mass abduction across all 36 states, with ransom rackets, Banditry continues to blight lives in the north-west, devastating farming communities and crippling agricultural output.
“Even with Benue State alone, any sane person will wonder, has our government collapsed? Under President Tinubu and the APC governments across Nigeria, this carnage has worsened with their palliative economy. While human lives perish, these people bask in sanctimonious euphoria clouded by their smallness, clannishness, bigotry and ungodly wastefulness.
“I don’t want to talk about fuel price and the coastal N15 trillion inglorious circus…As I step down, as we step aside, I pledge unwavering support. Whether I hold a position or not, my devotion to the ADC project remains unshaken. My guiding principle has always been that leadership transcends titles.
“We function most when we are not defined by titles. I would like to beg my colleagues and all of us that desire a new Nigeria, take ownership from any corner where you may be, lead, get out the votes and ensure that our votes count, uphold the highest ethical compass in all you do. In doing so I can assure all of us of over 37.5m for our new president under ADC and all coalition partners.
“Many have and many more may want to query our admittance of some persons and groups in the Coalition. As a Catholic, I believe in re-examination of conscience, in confession, forgiveness, and renewal. We are not encouraging people to run away from their past; we are building upon it, encouraging them to make up for it. They bring their lessons learned and hearts open to redemption. That humility gives us the clarity to lead with integrity. ADC symbol of handshake is deeply meaningful and ADC DNA and core values teach us to leave no one behind in getting the job done.
Our country is so blessed and it remains the heartbeat of Africa. With this momentous day and event the world is watching as we together pledge to take our country from the intensive care Unit ICU of our dilapidated healthcare system to global reckoning. As I always say, no time to waste, Let’s go to work,” he said.
Giving insight over the transition, Nwosu explained: “In 2018 President Obasanjo had after screening and due diligence adopted ADC for his Coalition for Nigeria Movement CNM. This Coalition is yet another testimonial. This journey started about 18 months ago. We had over 12 NEC and 20 NWC meetings. We have held convergences in all the 36 states and FCT.
“The Convergence has moved to LGAs and wards in some states. Therefore, the NWC, NEC and entire members of our party approved our steps from the smallest to the knotty ones. The steps have given the impetus to our collective endorsement for leadership rejig at all levels. By our overwhelming endorsement of David Mark as interim National Chairman, We are setting in motion a new way of leadership that is boldly visionary and deeply committed to improving the lives of our people and restoring our country.
“The same applies to the approval of Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary with his unparalleled service record and ethical pedigree. This clearly signposts the leadership ADC and all other Coalition partners intend to foist on the country moving forward,” he said.
Although Nwosu maintained that he followed all legal procedures to relinquish his position to the interim national chairman, David Mark, however, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) dismissed the claims, insisting that it has no knowledge of the development.
Reacting to the involvement of the electoral umpire in the transition, Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, told Daily Sun that: “We are not aware of any transition undertaken by the ADC. We cannot comment on media reports.”