Mega motion will emerge to unseat APC in 2027 – NCF DG, Okunniyi

On this interview with WALE AKINSELURE, the Director-Normal of the Nationwide Consultative Entrance, Wale Okunniyi, discusses plans to kind an “ultra-mega” coalition to problem the All Progressives Congress forward of the 2027 normal election

Will the Labour Party stay the third drive or will a brand new mega coalition emerge as an alternative choice to the APC within the 2027 election?

Cuts in… The Labour Party was the primary drive, if not for the rigging. It grew to become the primary drive on the election after we created the Labour Party because the third drive, and we received. Relating to 2027, we aren’t banking on a 3rd drive. We’re going again to what we did in 2011 and 2015. In 2011, we began the mega summit motion to test the one-party rule of the Peoples Democratic Party, as a result of the then-PDP Nationwide Chairman, Vincent Ogbulafor, mentioned the social gathering would rule for 60 years. At the moment, we got here collectively beneath the management of Chief Anthony Enahoro of blessed reminiscence. I used to be the Secretary-Normal at the moment too. Chief Olu Falae, and Odumegwu Ojukwu all had events; Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and Dr Tunji Braithwaite got here collectively to test the one-party rule of the PDP again then. We began that course of in 2008. I used to be coordinating the secretariat on the time. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Normal Muhammadu Buhari joined us. Atiku got here in from the PDP. The PDP was in energy, however he had points with its management. In order that was what we did on the time to test the one-party rule.

Subsequently, the APC gained ascendancy into energy and the PDP was in opposition. We created the APC. We had been within the Congress for Progressive Change then, with Normal Muhammadu Buhari. I insisted to Normal Buhari that the one solution to go is to create one thing formidable and to carry all of the events collectively, together with the Motion Congress of Nigeria and we did that. We created the APC via a merger of CPC, ACN, a part of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, All Nigeria Peoples Party and forces within the ruling PDP then, together with the likes of Rotimi Amaechi, and Bukola Saraki. A few of us all the time examine notes for issues like that, as a result of that’s our speciality and we had been in a position to create APC. However in 2017, we started to speak of a 3rd drive as a result of the APC in energy was not doing properly. The PDP, because the opposition, was not doing properly. So we determined that there have to be a 3rd drive. We began with what you name the Nigeria Intervention Motion, with Olisa Agbakoba, Pat Utomi, Tafawa Balewa, and all of us. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo latched onto that and likewise supported us. It didn’t materialise as a result of, at elections, the motion broke into numerous events. After which you have got 15 of us contesting as presidential candidates towards the others. So there was no means we might have received that election. Some even labored with the PDP. In 2019, after that election, we determined that we had been going to consolidate on the third drive initiative. On June 12, 2019, at MKO Abiola’s home, we had a decision that we might have a 3rd drive. The third drive, which was meant to be a serious motion, will sponsor just one social gathering, and we is not going to enable our members to contest beneath totally different events. Everyone who joined should work in the direction of a celebration and that was what we did by speaking to the individuals. And so we began the Nationwide Consultative Entrance to seek the advice of and to carry all the opposite forces into a 3rd drive. Obadiah Mailafia, Attahiru Jega, Prof Pat Utomi, even Nigeria Labour Congress Ayuba Wabba, Oby Ezekwesili, Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana and so forth. All of us determined we would have liked a 3rd drive of a contemporary breed of youths.

When did Mr Peter Obi turn out to be the candidate of the third drive within the final normal election?

At one level, we couldn’t get a celebration of our personal to register. So we began searching for political events to make use of. Regardless of all the frustration we skilled with current events, we had been in a position to, final minute, very late in 2022, when the electioneering had began, we selected the Labour Party, and we emptied all our drive into the Labour Party to create a 3rd drive. It boomed nearly instantly. That was how Peter Obi got here in to hitch us in that third drive of the Labour Party. Nigerians took it from us as theirs, and the Obidient motion. That was a formidable motion and we received that election, if not for what occurred. This was as a result of we had completed critical work resulting in the adoption of the Labour Party. On October 1, 2021, we held a serious advocacy convention and rally to speak in regards to the digital transmission of outcomes. And all forces are gathered via that in readiness to work collectively in a political social gathering.

Variously, we’ve had totally different types of engagement of presidency or the ruling energy, both as a 3rd drive or as a robust opposition. However what’s rising now could be that there are methods and consultations ongoing, silently, with even stakeholders within the APC and the forces of the youth motion, forces of the PDP, Labour Party, NNPP and so forth to return collectively to save lots of democracy.

Contemplating the failings of the previous, how do you plan to have a profitable third-force marketing campaign this time?

We’re doing this not for ourselves however for productive democracy in order that it received’t be a one-party rule or one-party dictatorship. That’s what we are attempting to do. The session is ongoing, and we’ll get an current political social gathering – it may be the Labour Party, it may be the PDP, it may be NNPP – it’d even be some other current social gathering that we are able to transfer into, rebrand and restructure for a negotiated democratic management to emerge. Then, we’ll create an actual mega motion, an ultra-mega motion inside that current social gathering. It is because we all know, fairly properly, that INEC is probably not disposed to registering a brand new social gathering. We are attempting to see whether or not we are able to register however, if INEC doesn’t register us, we are able to use any of the present events. I converse because the Director-Normal of the Nationwide Consultative Entrance, which is guiding this, with Prof Pat Utomi because the chairman. We began the method on February 6 final 12 months, through the birthday ceremony of Prof Utomi. Now we have consultations ongoing amongst gladiators inside APC, PDP, and LP. All this can coalesce into a serious, formidable coalition social gathering that can have interaction governance and the ruling social gathering. This goals to maintain democracy, rescue Nigeria, and guarantee Nigerians expertise the advantages of democracy.

Is the goal merely to contest in 2027?

Properly, that’s a part of it as a result of if you happen to don’t contest energy, how will you be capable to perform your ideological programmes? How do you execute your concepts? What we intend to do is to construct one thing formidable that Nigerians can take as their very own, via our messaging and ideological presentation. It isn’t as a result of we’re saints. That is what we need to do and we’ll stand by it. We can be true to it and be principled sufficient to verify it occurs. That isn’t an issue for us as a result of we’ve completed this factor again and again.

What can be totally different this time?

This time, we’ll study from our numerous errors from 2007. I bear in mind Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari had been purported to work collectively, to interact (Umaru) Yar’Adua, which didn’t materialise. I bear in mind a few of us had been arrested at Onikan Stadium. We are going to study from our numerous errors. Though we had it in 2015 because the APC, what occurred later? Some individuals seized energy and locked up the Villa. Buhari was held captive. He didn’t even bear in mind a few of us who had been the brainbox of his emergence. He was locked up within the Villa and didn’t bear in mind all we promised Nigerians we might do, ranging from Professional-Nationwide Convention Organisation days. He even vowed to Chief Enahoro that he would do them if we made him the President, however he didn’t bear in mind to do them.

What did Buhari promise Chief Enahoro?

In 2003/2004, he joined PRONACO. He sat earlier than Chief Enahoro to say that if he emerges, he’ll implement the PRONACO decision. He didn’t contact something. So, we’ve come a good distance and we’ll go full hog this time in session. Our forces are strategising on the easiest way to save lots of the nation, to rescue democracy, and to ensure that the individuals take possession of their governance. It’s not for us; it’s for the individuals. We’re going to a serious nationwide summit quickly, the place all opposition politicians and progressives may have their say on the form of social gathering that ought to be created. That can occur within the 12 months.

When is it seemingly for the plans to take form this 12 months?

We’re taking a look at June/July after the nationwide summit of political stakeholders. In Might, there can be a serious nationwide summit of political stakeholders and the individuals can be invited to form the way forward for the brand new, ultra-mega opposition political motion that can emerge. One thing will emerge by July. The method is occurring. Simply be careful

Are Atiku, Peter Obi and their males concerned?

At their ranges, they’re speaking; they’re consulting. So all people is concerned and each speaking level will join. Each speaking level for a virile and formidable opposition should join sooner or later. All of the forces will join on the nationwide summit more likely to be held in Might. We will use any of the events. It might even be the PDP. Ensure that any chosen social gathering would have its management rebranded and restructured. In case you take an current social gathering, just like the PDP or Labour Party, for example, you must focus on with their management to mean you can rebrand and restructure. You might have to get the consent of the incumbent management of such events. It’s important to first know that they’re amenable to rebranding and restructuring.

Is the North shopping for into the agenda?

The session is nationwide. The North is concerned. The North is extra concerned now and I don’t know the rationale for that. I solely know the North is extra concerned than the South. Most likely, it’s as a result of the President is from the South and, perhaps, they’re feeling the warmth extra. Even the session is generic. Individuals had been on their very own and noticed the El-Rufai forces shifting. So many stakeholders within the APC are much more pushed by consultations than a few of us within the progressive motion. This isn’t geared at an individual; It’s geared at saving democracy. The goal is to rescue Nigeria in order that the individuals will be taken out of impoverishment and hardship foisted on them by a few of the insurance policies of the federal government. And the individuals can then give a mandate. The federal government within the final 30 years has refused to seek the advice of the individuals. The consultative course of has died. The final time that some gimmick of session occurred was beneath the administration of Ibrahim Babangida, whenever you needed to debate the gathering of the Structural Adjustment Programme mortgage; debate the structure and all types of issues. Individuals know what the federal government needs to do. However in a democracy, sadly, authorities insurance policies and programmes are shrouded in secrecy. Earlier than you realize it, the Nationwide Meeting has handed it and the structure of Nigeria is such that the individuals don’t also have a position of their governance. In case you have a look at Nigeria’s 1999 army structure, there isn’t a position for the residents to play. A referendum or plebiscite is taken off the Nigerian Structure. In Britain, you see consultations on problems with the presidency. In America, the parliament is fast to throw points on the individuals. So we need to change all of that; we need to empower the individuals extra, to present path to the brand new authorities that can emerge in Nigeria.

Atiku not too long ago alleged that the APC bribed the opposition with N50m. How will your motion navigate such techniques, if the allegation is true?

It’s for the session itself to be fairly open, clear and real. If the session is real, clear, and democratic sufficient, it’ll navigate all makes an attempt to stifle opposition events with funds or different techniques. So, it’s for us to be thorough; I’m not going to let you know methods on the pages of the newspaper. Now we have not completed that previously. However we are able to let you know that consultations are ongoing. We’re conscious of all of the strikes and that’s pure. It’s a political sport. So, we’re conscious and we’re doing every part to beat that.

You have got hyperlinks with numerous teams and political events. Is The Patriots, a bunch led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, amongst these being consulted?

The Patriots group is just not a part of the motion. It’s the Nationwide Consultative Entrance that’s driving this. The Patriots group is concerned within the nationwide query, problems with federalism, restructuring, cohesion, nationwide unity, nationwide stability, and nationwide integration. That will contain reforming the polity, having a serious constitutional restructuring of the nation, and having nationwide conferences, and constituent assemblies. Members of The Patriots usually are not concerned in partisan politics. These are eminent Nigerians who’re above partisan politics

Are you suggesting that Nigerians ought to place their hope within the coalition you’re constructing to supply a really contemporary hope?

Properly, You may’t construct one thing on something. The coverage path of the federal government is so discouraging, and it has not helped the financial system. So it’s most disheartening and demoralising. Nigerians ought to be hopeful as a result of the rising coalition can be owned by them. We are going to take the possession straight to them. Nigerians are going to be represented within the social gathering. That may be a ray of hope which I feel they’ll latch on. , the federal government can name a nationwide convention and nothing occurs. I assumed they mentioned they had been going to do a youth summit someday. They didn’t do it. What method of governance is that? You take the youth, the residents for a trip?