By Iheanacho Nwosu, Abuja
Prominent Nigerians, including former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke and activist lawyer, Olisa Agabakoba have formed a new political association.
The association, which they said aims at reshaping Nigeria’s political system and rescuing the citizenry from the hands of those they call ‘predators,’ is called Nigeria Political Summit Group (NPSG).
Other members of the movement include son of Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa Balewa, Director of Pan Atlantic University, Prof. Pat Utomi, General Secretary of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, Isa Aremu; university don, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim; Alhaji Rabiu Ishaku Rabiu and Dr. Elena Okengwu.
Announcing the formation of the movement, Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), said the political trend in the country was disturbing and must be checked.
He said the group, which met in Abuja and deliberated on the state of the nation, expressed disenchantment with the trend of political activities and poor level of governance in the country.
Agbakoba said the mission of the association is to mobilise Nigerians towards effecting real change desired by the citizenry in 2019.
“We are concerned that they have taken Nigerians for granted; we are concerned that as we move closer to 2019, all the monies that should have been used to build up Nigeria will go down the drain, in the name of politics. We are concerned about the so many scandals trailing this government, such as the current Mainagate and the fight between the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). We are concerned that if we keep sitting back in our homes and offices, nothing will change and 2019 will be Armageddon.”
Agbakoba also explained that the NPSG has resolved to assemble a group of patriotic Nigerians to work towards the process of working towards the change the people have always desired over the years.
Director General of the association, Mr. Olawale Okuniyi, added that the NPSG has been designed to attract leaders of thought and the conscience of the nation.