By OLUWOLE FAROTIMI
Plans by opposition parties to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in 2015 got a boost yesterday as 10 governors converged in Lagos endorsing the project. The governors who fully backed the merger plans vowed to stop the PDP, saying it is not good for the nation’s hard-earned democracy. Addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting at the Lagos House, Marina , the governors who spoke through Borno State Governor Kashim Shetima, said the meeting was informed by their concern on Nigeria and the way forward.
According to Shettima , “ we, the governors of Borno, Ekiti, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Yobe and Zamfara, rose from a meeting at Lagos House, Marina today, Tuesday , having reviewed the situation in our country , we resolved that to rescue Nigeria, is a task that must be done. “As progressives and patriotic leaders of our people across party , religious and geo-political zones , we are extremely concerned about the state of the nation, as we put our heads together in the interest of our people to deliberate on what can be done to rescue our country,” the governors said.
Also speaking, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, noted that there is no room for skepticism over the merger plans, saying the project will be driven by the governors and leaders of the parties. “The merger has become very necessary to save our democracy and the likelihood of turning Nigeria into a one-party state does not augur well for democracy, therefore, I personally fully endorse this movement and this new merger at least to rescue the nation, and we say we are on a rescue mission here and to make sure Nigeria gets better, the essence of this whole merger is to make Nigeria a better nation, ”
Okorocha said. Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said: “Skepticism is one thing; the commitment that we bring to the table will certainly override any skepticism. I am convinced that the full weight of 10 of us (governors) and many more who unfortunately could not make it today, is a much stronger force. “The underlying reason is clearly how to make this country a better place, this is not the best that this country can have and we intend to deliver Nigeria’s best,” he said. Fashola’s views were not different from his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who assured that a lot of other people will come on board once they see the sincerity of those driving the process.
“That is why we are not taking this lightly, we are very determined and I am sure that with the support of all Nigerians, this merger will work,” Amosun said. Zamfara State Governor Abdul-Aziz Yari also said: “The move is to fix Nigeria in the right perspective, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is something else and if we in opposition say that we are right and you as a journalist and many people outside here, go and ask them whether they are happy since 1999 till date or not, so therefore, it is a duty for all of us as leaders to drive our people right and we believe the PDP has done less.
“We have the idea, the knowledge and we have the progressive idea to move the country forward, so if you say that we intend to move the PDP out of power, yes, we are ready to do that,” he said. Present at the meeting were Govs Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Shettima, Okorocha, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State while Senator Degere Alkali, represented the governor of Yobe State.
it will be very good if the power goes out from the Evil minded people called PDP
But it is a well known fact that nigerian politicians have no idealogy, anybody here who will tell himself the truth will agree that any of these 10 persons or any other of their type given or promised the presidential candidacy of the pdp today will not join this their new party. Which ond among the 10 persons have not changed party only because he was refused ond ticket or the other? I am so ashamed today because okorocha is named among these persons and if he thinks that the presidential ticket of that party will be given to him, he is even more naive than I think. And if he knew this and still went ahead knowing that buhari is the owner of that party and he believes that our ppl will vote for buhari because of him, then he is worse than naive. I don’t know who is in control of apga but if okorocha thinks that he can take Igbos to buhari who murdered Igbos in their millions and remain unapologetic about it then he is another thing altogether. Look at thd other in that group like shetima gov borno state who is paying billions of naira to thd boko haram for murdering thousands of Igbos and other ppl, how much compensation did he pay to the families of those that boko haram killed but he quickly paid boko haram billions of naira for killing for their cause. These are birds of the same feather. The few good ppl and those who like pdp shoud not worry but rejoice because all the evil ppl in pdp are migrating to this new party, that was how all of them rushed to the pdp and destroyed nigeria and now that they are not getting all they want they rushing to a new party. I might even join pdp now that the evil ones are going out.
Chairman, can we for once reason beyond these sentiments of Ethnicity and religion and look for a way forward? Nigeria is operating a one party state and this isnt good for us at all. Lets all give something else a try cos PDP has been failing and will continue failing. With the likes of Fashola there, I am sure something good will come out of this Almagamation
@Chairman, I carefully read Ur write up. Listen my conclusion is this, if U’re not writing for Gov. Peter Obi of ANAMBRA State, then U’re Peter Obi himself. U’re most unreasonable what we need now is simple CHANGE, CHANGE AND CHANGE anyway let there be CHANGE AND POWER SHIFT FROM THESE BOUNCH OF SENSELESS MONSTERS IN PDP.
This useless 10 wise men that wants power at all cost, trace back to their various states they have never impacted any sign of democratic dividend to their home states. Only interested clinching on to power as if they were deceiving babies, all Nigeria politicians are the same party affiliations makes no difference, very soon revolution will consume all of them, just watch out.
Pls keep your lunatic opinion to yourself
What other options do u hv Owerri. U just sit in your hauz and talk rubbish. We always wish that this country will get better but also prevent anything good from been done.
We need a strong opposition to PDP, weda they are as bad as Pdp or not. Competition will make them sit up
It is good to have a change at the center, but these 10 men, are they not task masters themselves, look at lagos state, people are suffering and smiling, look at ogun state, it is a state of hell, what is the objective of these roughs, just to increase their stealing drive, God will scatter you people with your evil objectives
Let us see how 10 governors’ votes would wrestled power from PDP. It is the millions of nigeria electorates that deciede not 10 of you. Nigerians know the antecedents these 10 Govs and their ambitions. The major problem of these oppositions is lack of internal democray. They impose candidates on party members. The crack at Ond0 state ACN’s wall in the 2012 governorship election was an alleged imposition of candidates
I can see your Olekameter is reading off T̶̲̥̅̊h̶̲̥̅̊e̲̅ chart
Just like the Legendary Obj,I’d say I dey laugh. They tried it before in 2003;they failed,tried again in 2007 and failed…they are at it again but they will certainly fail because The PDP remains unshakeable. PDP!!! Power to the People!!! So our 10 busy-body Governors and your host of many others,keep dreaming till 3015
I just dey laugh! Why did 8uhari the master planner not come? The 36 state governors cannot rmve GEJ cos he remains the (best) devil among the rest.
Let Shetima go and repair that death zone called Borno State 1st b4 talking about Nigeria! Charity they said begins at home! Okorocha pls stay out of dis! That’s my humble advice GBAM!
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Change in political leadership in Nigeria is necessary. We all see the rot getting deeper and we know that the PDP is greedy, unpatriotic, clueless, unwilling and unable to move Nigeria forward, so, it is unhelpful to argue that other parties should not be given a chance to rule because they may not be better than the PDP.
you have proven to be the most reasonable person here. All we need it Change. If these men are promising us that change, then we should support them and see hw far they can go.
Owelle ndi Igbo Rochas, the Igbos are solidly behind you. We needed change in Govt. How far can we go like this. I can’t be ruled by sentiment. #120 naira for not up to a litre of fuel as we buy here in the East is now normal price of fuel from #65 and nobody is complaining.
Any change from our nation will come from GOD and can not be from any political party.Because all political parties are the same evil mentors.
P.D.P.is evil no good things can come out from that party most of the states being controlled by P.D.P.nothing works.look at Abia state and co.they are busy shareing money and building roads on T.Vs.and radios the same thing Ohakim did when he rules imo state for 4 yrs he was busy building refinery industry and roads in internet.this is just to mention but few.those ten wise men go for it God being on ur side u will win.Amen.
I agree with you. Nothing good has come Nigerias way with the PDP we need to try something else.
The cup of pdp done full, there is no two way about it . I a.k.a. equally endorse the pragmatic move for betterment of nigerians and our generation unborn. There is common saying “if a woman marry two husbands she will know the better one ” we (nigerians) have not married two two husbands, let us try it.
@political…. a.k.a. means “also known as.”
Rochas go and fix Imo state.
Shaaaraap!!!! Imo is working. At least I didnt pay school fees for 2 of my kids in IMSU dis session. Thats the first time i’m benefitting anything from the govt all tru my life
Pls ask d@ Borno man to go back and meet his Boko Haram brothers. We dont need BH here.
Rochas has ganged-up against mr president who help him become gov when Ohakim has already won the election on 26 April 2011,but remember Rochas is not over until is over !
If mr president stood for Rochas against Ohakin, he felt he (mr president) did right thing then so wht makes the diffrnce if today Rochas is fighting for th right cuz.
Owerri I disagree with your comment, how can you say that a wise man is useless?. His wisdom has made him useful anywhere he finds himself, so mr, Owerri, what I see in your comment is nothing but contradiction.
All I want to say is that this political party merger movement has a good beginning, and I wish to see its successful ending and a desired result by God’s grace.
Tnx bro
Finally, i start seeing hope for nigerias. Sayin… when the center can no longer hold things fall apart, Achibe. When the falcon dose nt listen to the falconer, things fall apart….achibe. Whn the ruler dose nt listen to the ruled, things fall apart.alibaba. Nigerians lets embrace ths move bt we cn nt judge thm now..
Fellow nigerian’s millitary rule is the best option in Naja pls be wise.
1 No boko haram
2 No millitance
3 No politically assassination
4 limited oil theft
5 Ect——–
COOKEY!!!!!! U want mk ur father for get work again, Abi? E no go work for u
PDP have
done their best it is not enough.
We need new hands to structure this country.
PDP have
done their best,thus it is obvious it isn’t enough.
We need new hands to structure this country.
good move in the right direction. Goodbye to PDP come 2015.
HAHA SEE WHO ARE TALKING.10 FOLISH GOVS.PLS SOMEBODY SHOULD TELL THE GOV OF BORNU TO GO AND STOP THE BLOOD BATH IN MAIDUGURI.UP PDP
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..the system of government we practice in Nigeria is counterproductive. Believe it or not, our sort of governance is a sham. It breeds desperation corruption, disunity, it promotes inefficiency, it undermines creative destruction of ideas, it draws nigeria backwards. The governors simply have too much power, and this needs to be checked. But I guess it would not happen very soon. Anyway, while on paper, having a two party system or several political parties is good as it stimulates competition, I don’t mean looting competition, but creative competition. I would be naive to think that the 10 Governors are creating this merger for the betterment of the people. No way.. In fact, the kind of politics we play in my beloved country is uncondusive for the average Nigerian. As an economist, I understand the intricacies and pitfalls of a quasi-socialist government, but the way Nigeria is going, there may not be other feasible way to raise the standard of living of the common Nigerian without adopting a welfarism system.
Now I think GEJ is in trouble.
Is Anayor okorocha,the only APGA Governor,why didn’t Gov.peter obi.came for the meeting..he has started showing his real ethnic origin….No way,he is own his own..
We need change
Okorocha, we the wise men from the east are watching you with kin interest! As central politics, no merger on earth can oust the rubbish PDP at the federal level
its people like u dt pray but never act. Why wont the pdp b removed from Nigeria if we all join in the fight against them and their corrupt practices.
After all, Many PDP govs and legislators lost their seats during the last elections.
WAKE UP AND JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST PDPD
None sense, many of the govs are not there for the good of the nation but for thier personal gains. Look many of them are in thier 2nd term bid what next. They just making noise.
Owerri bastard it’s now that I finally believe that u’re really deranged. So u want PDP to continue to ruin our nation. If that’s what u pray for, I can tell u that it will never work. By de way over de last 14 yrs of PDP govt in Nigeria, Owerri bastard what have u as person gained from this useless party?. Ho I see, u’re one those people that get their monthly allowance from de party, but I can assure u fools that de party is over for u idiots, de merger parties will flush PDP out of power soon, come 2015. If u think PDP can withstand de merger come 2015 I will tell u to keep on dreaming.
Nonsence
Leadership is never easy,dis shows dat all those politicians never have any good intentions for this our great country,instead of them to back mr president in order to move the country forward,they are busy planning what will never be possible cos none of them can perform more than our dear president.Despite the whole things mr president is passing thru, still no remorse in them.Selfish PEOPLE.08035417315 OR olisahchukacalistus@yahoo.com for DIALOGUE
These 10 men are same with those in PDP. Our problem is not party politics. My Gov. Okorocha was in PDP. ANPP & now APGA. I wonder why most people are so dumb that they think moving from one party to the other(s) makes the person a born again politician? Make una shine una eyes. Be that as it may, Gov. Okorocha is doing a wonderful work in Imo & I commend him for that. Keep it up Owelle.
2015 will justifies the means, time shall tell
Well for me big merger will not send PDP packing coz all of them are using PDP template for governance. For instance are they not all in control of state/LGA joint accounts? why are they not fighting their fellow govs to a standstill? another thing is infrastructure. Are they not even slightly below bar with PDP states from any region u will look at it? Lets see how the lives of people in various non-pdp states and constituencies change for good and we can have a better assessment of them. If they can’t change their people trust me Nigeria won’t be better even if they are given Presidency to control. The problem with nigeria are the Legislature and Judiciary and nation that gets those arms of govt uncorrupted will certainly have good leadership for the people. We need people not party to rule us. The govs are all reach from state funds even if they claim that is not true which all of them claim. The big shots claim dat they dnt steal and corrupt Nigeria. But I guess the real question is who then is doing all these havoc in this beloved country and now they are claiming division of Nigeria will solve our problem. They will simply carry their power-centric nature the various new colonies created to continue to rule. they just want power and are prepared to die with it. If you doubt me try to become a political big figure and see if it will work unless God wants to use your case as he used Moses against Pharaoh. Let God guide us to find a good leader come 2015. I simply don’t trust these men.
ganging up To wrestle power from the pdp is a shamefull move by this 10 men let their perfomance speak for them
The only thing PDP can boast of since 1999 is the introduction of mobile phone tru Obj. Telling us they built 5000km road should not be a news bcos it is the least of Govt project in a nation. I think the step taking by the 10 governors is a right step in the right direction provided they are different. Let us give democracy and multy party system we claim we practice a chance
This is a good idea,may God make the merger plan a successful one.We are tired of PDP.
My point is simply that it will only be those who lost out in their parties that will make up this party
.,My point is simply that it will only be those who lost out in their parties that will make up this party
The merger plan is good, but who will be their presidential candidate,i pray it not to be buhari, or 9 of this governors, if not they are merging to fail woefully,to me base on what is happening in imo state owelle is the man for it,although na still the same people, but owelle is not too greedy like others
Truth be told. PDP, from 1999 up till 2011 has never won any election in the ‘battle fields’. What has actually been happening is selections by the so called power brokers. So, of what use is this merger of opposition parties would serve to unseat the ruling PDP? We must know that our votes have never counted. The so called power brokers sit in Abuja and use phone calls to allocate votes to various strategic states in the country. They don’t really need my vote and your votes to enthrone a president. That is the way the cookie crumbles. If the oppositions party members must do something, they would need to learn how to thwart the effort of PDP rigging machines. They should n’t think that what they need is only to out-number PDP in each state. They must come up with a blue-print on how to successfully incapacitate the PDP rigging and allocation machines. Adams Oshiomhole did it in Edo, the home of ‘Mr fix it.’
Was it not the same manner the G34 started before they metamorphosed into PDP of today? Once again, here comes another one which I would call G10. Let’s hope they would not also end like PDP as it is today. What a vicious circle?
Okorocha should not trust these people with blood of betrayal running through their vein.The can not be trusted.
Okorocha should not trust these people with blood of betrayal running through their vein.The can not be trusted.they can not trusted pls.
Owelle Rochas Okorocha is a disgrace to the entire Igbos by joining that stupid merger party.If his plans is for the 9 governors to present him as a presidential aspirant for the merger party then he is the worse fool and naive i have never seen in entire Igbo land,i have been privilage to met Rochas at Enugu Airport and he is such an arrogant man and stingy.As for you AIKAY i dont know which one you dey self
I go laf awt l0udest wen d pDp wins d 2015 election
Rouges, thieves, tauts thats all they are
Rochas is a taut and a greedy dupe!
Thank you chuks. Instaed of them building this country they ve corrupted,they gang up to form another corrupt party so that power will go to them. And puch the blame on pdp and the president,as if that can change them. These are Leaders that divide the nation, i do not see unity in this move at all! What mr president is passing through is caused by these same pple. And i wonder what kind of a better nigeria they want to bring out of a self-fish and hetred mind. I tell you, you pple can’t change this nation this WAY instaed it will become worse! Sorry to say this, i can see total slavery in this nation,i pray it should not happen. Pdp! or no pdp! All is the same, because they have the same self-fish mission. I pity nigeria!
My vote goes to pdp period. Jonah no shaking!
NIGERIA IS ALREADY A DEAD ENTITY. NIGERIA IS WAITING FOR BURIAL BEFORE OR BY 2014. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS SEPARATION. THESE CRIMINAL CLASS CALLED GOVERNORS ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN ARMED ROBBERS. THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN LOOTING MONEY NOTHING MORE. HAUSA-FULANI AND THEIR YORUBA COUNTERPART CAN CONTINUE THEIR MARRIAGE BUT NOT WITH NDI-IGBO. WHAT NDI-IGBO WANT NOW IS BIAFRA NATION NOTHING MORE. SO, IN THIS EVIL PLOT CALLED MERGER, THEY SHOULD COUNT NDI-IGBO OUT. ROCHAS OKOROCHA IS AN HAUSA-FULANI NOT IGBO. ON BIAFRA, NDI-IGBO STAND. VISIT RADIO BIAFRA,www.radiobiafralondon.com.
“The merger has become very necessary to save our democracy and the likelihood of turning Nigeria into a one-party state does not augur well for democracy, therefore, I personally fully endorse this movement and this new merger at least to rescue the nation, and we say we are on a rescue mission here and to make sure Nigeria gets better, the essence of this whole merger is to make Nigeria a better nation, : Owelle i agree totally with you but they said charity begins at home. please make sure that people of Imo are happy with your govt b4 you jion to oust a bad govt. a pot cant call kettle black. please all of you must behave like Fashola of LAgos . i heard he is doing very well, otherwise go back and put your house in order before you jion. i also want to mentioned here that some of you are just gambling i mean you are not truthful, with due respect to you, Owella are you not in PDP or….. some of the politicains are just sitting on the fence looking for what to get. please follow the expamle of good one give to society what is due to them. God is watching, nemesis is real. save your children. God bless your amalgamation and those with genuine heart.
some people are quick to think that by dividing Nigeria its going to get better but trust me you will wish they did not. Without going into the details, i guess the main question is even if they divide Nigeria by every LGA being a country of its own will you have the liberation you thought? These same people will follow these new countries and continue their power-centric way of life and continue to suppress and oppress people. What they tell us on the media and newspapers is one thing and their motive to as why the information is passed is another thing. If i were to be an elite in position of authority and tell you that the government is corrupt and call for your support to form a new nation, its only befitting for you to do thorough findings before supporting me cause what ever evidence i give you, you were not actually there as a first hand witness. the solution is for God to touch the lives of the Legislatures and Judiciary for the country to change. Only in a system where legislature is really sincere and judiciary is also really sincere that such country or civilization can attain great height. Change these two arms and the country’s problem is already 75% solved and the rest will just fall in line. This is the truth and not division.