• Party not for sale, Nwosu scammed them –Kachikwu
From Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Abuja
The much-anticipated coalition masterminded by former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, erstwhile Senate president David Mark, former governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Liyel Imoke (Cross River), former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus and others, is embroiled in crisis.
A few hours after it was birthed with fanfare, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, has warned the coalition of opposition parties that the party is not for sale.
He accused the party’s former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, of scamming the coalition by offering them the ADC as a vehicle for 2027.
He reiterated that the coalition of political parties entered into a pact with Nwosu, whose tenure ended on August 21, 2022.
His reaction followed a meeting held on Tuesday in Abuja, where a coalition of opposition politicians and some ADC members agreed to use the ADC as a platform for a united opposition front. Following the meeting, the group announced the adoption of the party as its coalition platform, naming Mark and Aregbesola as interim national chairman and secretary, respectively while former sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, emerged spokesperson.
But Kachikwu told newsmen at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, that Nwosu, who was national chairman of the party for 18 years, has no platform to offer the party to the coalition of opposition parties.
Kachikwu noted that the coalition is made up of “mostly geriatric” Nigerians who are merely “shopping around for a party to prosecute their ‘chopping must continue’ ambition.”
He criticised their claims of being on a “rescue mission” for ordinary Nigerians, questioning how those who have “presided over the affairs of this nation for the past four decades” and left “nothing to show for their decades of leadership” can now be the solution.
“We are a nation lacking in the basics whose majority are poor but here we are watching those who set our nation on fire saying they are the fire brigade. No, you are not; you are a bunch of greedy and selfish old men who believe that political power is your birthright,” Kachikwu declared, concluding with a powerful rejection: “Nigerians are tired of your generation and reject everything you have to offer which is nothing.”
He added that the coalition is made up of “mostly geriatric” Nigerians who are merely “shopping around for a party to prosecute their ‘chopping must continue’ ambition.”
He criticised their claims of being on a “rescue mission” for ordinary Nigerians, questioning how those who have “presided over the affairs of this nation for the past four decades” and left “nothing to show for their decades of leadership” can now be the solution.
On the coalition, he said: “They’re shopping for a party to realise their ambition. They’ve stripped other parties and that’s why they’re all trying ADC and most members of the party are not even aware of these moves. I have some chairmen of the party here with me and they totally oppose what’s happening.
If your tenure has lapsed, how can you enter into any pact with anyone? This is a case of someone buying a bad product. At this point, state chairmen want to convene a convention to elect new leaders…We have a lacuna and we will address it.”
Asked if he would go to court on the matter, Kachikwu responded: “All options are on the table and in the next few days, you’ll see our actions and reactions on the issue at hand.”
On Nwosu Ralph’s actions, he added: “I believe that what he’s done is trading on people’s mandate. It’s dead on arrival and it’s not for sale. These people who preside over the affairs of small parties have played the same game for years. The political party for them represents a product they can sell and it’s very difficult for them to leave the only tuning they know.”
Earlier, at the press conference, Kachikwu warned that the coalition, as presently constituted, are men who do not mean well for the country.
“Dear ADC family and fellow Nigerians, it is with the greatest amusement that I watched the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led group announce their takeover of the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress. As is expected I have been inundated with a lot of calls and messages seeking my reaction to the unfolding dramedy.
“The facts of the matter are as follows: The Atiku led group is in some form of alliance with the former leadership of the party led by Ralph Nwosu. The tenure of the Nwosu led executive lapsed on August 21, 2022, and his continued parade of himself as the chairman of the party was the subject of various litigations in different courts across the country.
“From the foregoing, I want to then pose the following questions: Can you build something on nothing? Can you shave a man’s hair in his absence? Can you enter a man’s house through the back door and declare yourself the landlord? These yesterday’s men who represent a bad chapter in Nigeria’s past have bought bad market from a man who represents a bad chapter in ADC’s past.
“Nigerians have watched in amazement as this group of mostly geriatrics shopped around for a party to prosecute their ‘chopping must continue’ ambition.
This further cements the opinion most hold that political parties in Nigeria stand for nothing and will fall for anything. They have told us that they are fighting for the rights of ordinary Nigerians and that they are on a rescue mission but what is confusing to the Nigerians they want to rescue is that these men made up of a former vice president, former governors, ministers and political office holders are the same people who have presided over the affairs of this nation for the past four decades.
We have nothing to show for their decades of leadership other than being seen as a nation divided by tribe and religion and thriving in mediocrity. We are a nation lacking in the basics whose majority are poor but here we are watching those who set our nation on fire saying they are the fire brigade.
“No, you are not; you are a bunch of greedy and selfish old men who believe that political power is your birthright. You stand for nothing other than your interests and will pay any price to hold political office.
Nigerians are tired of your generation and reject everything you have to offer which is nothing. Nigerians yearn for new names, new faces, fresh ideas and progressive ideals.
“We yearn for a new Nigeria that thrives on meritocracy and deemphasises tribe and religion. We dream of a nation that works for all Nigerians irrespective of region or religion. We want a nation whose laws and opportunities are equal to all men. We desire inclusiveness for all and social protections for the weak amongst us. Nigerians have never asked for much other than a leadership that truly cares. You have failed us and stand rejected by us…”
To Kachikwu, the coalition is welcome in the ADC only if they go through the proper channels and warned that if they do not, they would leave the party sooner than they joined.
“If you seek to be a part of the ADC, do the proper thing and come through the front door. We are a party of decent and well-behaved people. Our brand of opposition is one that not only opposes but proposes, something that your group is not conversant with.
I strongly suspect that you will be shopping for another party very soon and as you do that, we the members of the African Democratic Congress wish you Bon Voyage…”
In a separate statement, factional National Publicity Secretary, Musa Isa Matara, also warned that the ADC is not a “private coalition platform” to be hijacked by political elites.
He claimed the decision to merge with the opposition coalition was made without consulting key party structures, including state executives, youth and women leaders, and ward coordinators.
The statement read: “We warn those coming into the ADC as part of this imposed arrangement to tread carefully. Be mindful that some few individuals are attempting to sell out the soul of our party for personal gain.
“The ADC is not for sale. It belongs to its members, not political merchants or elite dealmakers.”
He insisted that the party leadership had no prior knowledge of these developments and reaffirmed their rejection of what he called an “imposed arrangement.”
He stressed that while the ADC welcomes the idea of forming alliances, it would not accept what appears to be a hostile takeover.
He said that the appointments announced at the meeting carry no weight, as they were not ratified by the party’s National Executive Committee or a national convention.
“The claim that the ADC has become the ‘platform of the National Opposition Coalition Group’ is misleading.
“Our millions of members have not been informed or carried along in this so-called coalition.
“If anyone is attempting to force an opposition merger without grassroots consent, they are trampling on democratic ethics and party sovereignty.
“Let it be known to those who are trooping into our party under this chaotic coalition arrangement that the ADC has been battling unresolved legal crises since the 2023 general elections.
“These matters remain in court and unresolved. Any coalition attempt built on such shaky legal ground is irresponsible and potentially self-destructive.”