Sunday 13 January 2013

Buhari urges BoT to back merger talks

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Buhari urges BoT to back merger talks
Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) leader Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is committed to the merger talks among opposition political parties, the CPC said yesterday.
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the CPC, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and others are in talks to challenge the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
Last week in Ibadan, former ANPP presidential candidate and ex-Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shakarau similarly expressed optimism about the workability of the merger talks.
But the PDP has continued to pillory the talks, saying the opposition parties’ merger will not work.
The CPC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, said the failure of the talks could spell doom for the country. He spoke to reporters in Abuja yesterday.
Fashakin said to underscore the CPC’s commitment, its former presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari, personally submitted a memorandum to the party’s Board of Trustees on why the merger must work.
Fashakin said: “This merger will succeed, contrary to the expectations of the PDP which has been skeptical. The PDP leaders do not know what they are saying at all. I think they have become jittery.
“The merger will definitely succeed because the parties involved understand clearly that the salvation of the Nigerian state depends on it. So, the leaders understand the responsibility thrust on them. That is why they will not allow it to fail.
“If the merger fails, Nigeria will certainly be on the precipice
“Our party is committed to the merger. As a matter of fact, Gen. Buhari personally brought a memo to the Board of Trustees (BoT) on the merger proposal.
“And all the BOT members were given a chance to air their views. They all applauded the proposal and spoke in unison that the CPC should go into it. We are fully committed to the merger talks.”
As part of its commitment to the merger plan, the CPC on Saturday named an 18-man negotiation committee, which will be inaugurated on Wednesday.
The statement said: “The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is pleased to release the names of the members of the Merger / Alliance Committee for its proposed merger with other Progressive Parties.
“The following eminent Nigerians have been so appointed: a former Deputy Governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Garba Gadi (chairman); the Governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura; a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Professor Tam David-West ; Alhaji Sabo Nanono; Senator Hadi Sirika; Chief Okoi Obono Obla; Owelle Oscar Udoji; Ife Oyedele; the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties(CNPP), Mr. Osita Okechukwu; Chief Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba ; Mrs. Lucy Ajayi; Air Cdre Bernard Banfa; Engr. B. D. Lawal; Dr Haruna Yerima; Mr James Ocholi , SAN; a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu; Prof. Buba Bajoga; and Dr. Osagie Ehanire.
“Meanwhile, the inauguration of these Eminent Nigerians shall be done on Wednesday, 16th January, 2013 at 10:00am at the Party’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
The Party’s National Leader, Gen. Buhari, shall be present to charge the appointees on the party’s expectation.”
TheNation

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