…It Is A Mirage
…It Is A Welcome Development
…Merger Has Never Worked In Nigeria
…Proponents Not Qualified
The recent merging of four political parties Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigerians Peoples Parties, ANPP, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and All Peoples Grand Alliance, APGA to form All Progressive Congress (APC) aimed at defeating the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) has elicited reactions across the nation, The Newswriters’ Roving crew went to town and sought the views of Nigerians on the issue.
Chief Andrew Uchendu a lawmaker representing Ikwerre/Emohua in the federal House of Representatives who spoke to our correspondent in Port Harcourt said merging of the four political parties to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cannot work.
Chief Uchendu who traced the history of mergers of political parties to 1960s said it has never worked, adding that merging to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party in 2015 elections is a mirage.
Chief Godspower Ake, the incumbent chairman of the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the merging of the four political parties to defeat PDP in the forthcoming elections will hit the rocks before the 2015 election.
Chief Ake noted that it was too early for people to rate the merger which gave birth to All Progressive Congress (APC).
According to him, “this is 2013; watch out before 2015 whether there will be no quarrel among the merging parties in the sharing of positions. As far, as I know mergers have not worked in Nigeria.
Chief Ake further emphasized that the merger does not in any way pose a threat to members of the ruling party, adding that PDP will still lead at the end of the day in any election that would be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the nation.
Hon. Austin Morris Joe Tenor, an ACN Leader in Rivers State said he appreciated the leaders of the various political parties who formed the merger.
He advised Nigerians not to see it as a crime, but rather as a political exercise to promote good governance in the nation.
He stressed that if the new political parties that merge will appoint God fearing Nigerians and real democrats to manage the activities of the new mega party, no other party will win the 2015 general elections other than the All Progressive Congress (APC). He urged leaders of the party not to see politics as a do or die affair, but a game in which a winner should embrace the loser and carry him along in the scheme of things to move the nation forward.
Mr. Darlington Amarame a journalist, in his view said PDP is a consolidated party that has more supporters than other parties across the nation, stressing that even if the constitution allows merging of the parties, the APC will never defeat the Peoples Democratic Party in any election.
Mr. Kingsley Dedua, a former president of National Union of Rivers State Students (NURSS), Bori Polytechnic Chapter said the merger of some political parties in the country is a nice thing to happen so far, but it will be difficult to unseat the ruling peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I know it will be a threat to PDP, I know with time if they are united they can fight the government in power but now, it is hard.
On whether the merger will bring more sympathy to the new party, Mr. Dedua said that since those parties that merged are in existence, they will increase in their membership, but the PDP too is still intact, apart from some of the factions in the party.
An educationist and a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Sofri Peterside viewed the merger as a welcome development.
Dr. Peterside stated that the merger has its own problems, as who will be the leader, a leadership problem may arise, this can also lead to unhealthy situation in the new political party.
A trader at the Mile 1 market Port Harcourt, Uche Amos stated that merger is not the problem of Nigeria, because this is not the first time political parties are merging, but how to carry everybody along is the big task. He cited the fact that already some leaders of APGA have discredited the merger, saying they are not party to it.
On his part the President of Integrity and Faithful Ministers Network Worldwide, Bishop (Dr.) Friday Nwator said as long as the merger of ACN, CPC, APGA and ANPP is being pioneered by the duo of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Alh. Abubakar Atiku the project remains a failed one.
According Nwator who is also the Founder of House of Peace Ministries, Port Harcourt, records have shown so far that Buhari’s politics is characterized by crises, division and blood. To him, such person has no business in wanting to be president of Nigeria.
The clergyman also faulted the academic background of the Chief Proponent of the merger, who he said only passed through military training and has not contested for any lower political positions before vying for the highest political position in the country. Bishop Nwator said he views this as an aberration.
Already we gathered that APGA chieftains like the governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi has dissociated himself from the merger.
The Newswriter also gathered that some anti-graft agencies such as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have started grilling some of the governors in the merger agreement to ascertain state of their financial status, with a view to giving them clean slate for 2015 general elections. Public analysts see the ICPC/EFCC investigation as a move by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to thwart the merger plan and maintain their hegemony in the country. The Newswriter will keep you abreast politically as the events continue to unfold. ###
By Barth Ndu, Emeka Ejiowhor, Pius Dukor
