Merger Talks: ACN Names Crack Team

 OLAOLU OLADIPO

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has appointed a 19-member committee with the mandate to negotiate its planned merger with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the committee, to be chaired by Chief Tom Ikimi, has as members Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, governors Babatunde Fashola and Rauf Aregbesola, Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyawu, Sen. George Akume and Hon.Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Other members are Sen. Lawal Shuaibu, Chief Audu Ogbe, Chief Achike Udenwa, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Sen. Chris Ngige, Dr. Usman Bugaje, Hajiya Rabiat Eshak, Dr. Ibrahim Y. Lame, Alhaji Yusuf Ali and Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported the plan by ACN to release the names on the committee with most members featuring as predicted in the report.
The ACN said the appointment of the committee is an indication of its total commitment to making the merger a reality, adding that there is no going back in the party’s determination to work with the CPC and the ANPP to rescue and salvage Nigeria.
It also congratulated the leadership of the CPC and the ANPP, which have already named their own merger committees, on their patriotism, and appealed to all Nigerians to support the planned merger: ‘’This is not about the ACN, CPC or ANPP but about our country Nigeria, which is tottering on the edge of disaster due mainly to the lack of leadership and failure of governance by the ruling PDP since 1999. The merger of the three parties is like a ‘Noah’s Ark’ which all Nigerians who are tired of the endless drift of our country must enter into.
‘’This is not about winning power at the centre at all costs, as the naysayers will want Nigerians to believe. It is about putting the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians above everything else.
‘’We will also like to inform Nigerians that contrary to what the doubters and spoilers are saying, the three parties are going into the merger plans unconditionally and without a set mind over posts or anything else. The only issue that has been settled is the urgent need to rescue and salvage our country. In this regard, the opposition knows it has a date with history!’’

1.	Alhaji Garba Gadi – Chairman
2.	Prof. Tam David-West
3.	Governor Tanko Al-Makura
4.	Alhaji Sabo Nanono
5.	Senator Hadi Sirika
6.	Chief Okoi Obono Obla
7.	Owelle Oscar Udoji
8.	Engr. Ife Oyedele
9.	Osita Okechukwu
10.	Chief Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba
11.	Mrs. Lucy Ajayi
12.	Air. Commodore Bernard Banfa (rtd)
13.	Engr. B.D. Lawal
14.	Dr. Haruna Yerima
15.	Mr. James Ocholi (SAN)
16.	Alhaji Adebayo Shittu
17.	Prof. Buba Bajoga
18.	Dr. Osagie Ehanire
ANPP Merger Team
1.	Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau
2.	Chief George Moghalu
3.	Senator Sani Yerima
4.	Hon. Suleiman Kawu

 Leadership