…Says CNM Has Adopted ADC As Political Party
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday declared that the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (C.N.M) has officially adopted a new political party, African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a platform to enable its members achieve their dreams of changing the current state of governance in Nigeria.
The former president made the disclosure while addressing a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
Flanked by one of his former aide, Dr. Gbolade Oshinowo and the former State Secretary to the Government (SSG) of Oyo state, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, Obasanjo said the decision of the Leadership of CNM to join ADC was borne out of the fact that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled federal government have been taking “Nigerians for fools” for a long time.
He explained that CNM as a popular grassroot movement, meant to stimulate the interest and participation of Nigerians towards bringing the desired change in governance, found a good ally in the “renewed and reinvigorated ADC” as a political party.
The former president however, maintained that he would cease to be a member of the movement just to keep in line with his earlier position that he has quitted partisan politics.
“With the emergence of ADC as a political party for the movement and its associates and in line with my clear position which I have often repeated, the first phase of my job is done and I will not be a member of the party”.
“But as I have always done since I quit partisan politics in 2014, I will keep alive and active on Nigerian and African issues and interest and I will be opened to offering advice to any individual or organisations for the unity, development and progress of Nigeria and indeed Africa”.
Obasanjo further stated that he would never be intimidated in the course of exercising his rights to freedom of speech wherever he considers such necessary in the interest of the country, Nigeria.
The former president vehemently condemned the existence of the two leading political parties: All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), describing them as lacking disciplines.
He however, called upon Nigerian electorates, who desired real change in democracy and governance to join the ADC as a platform to usher in a new dawn for Nigeria.
“I will advise others to join this political party as platform to usher in a new dawn for Nigeria, but I may not be able to advise anybody to join PDP or APC no matter what window-dressing reformation they may claim”.
“Although PDP would seem to have realised its mistakes of its immediate past eight years or so, its present evolution would by itself, not give confidence to well-meaning Nigerians who are interested in a new Nigeria in the hands of God that will have leadership, governance, development and values……”.
