Coalition will save Nigeria from drifting into one party state – Afenifere, others insist

…say coalition must respect rotational presidency

By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The pan Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere and some other groups in the country have expressed their support for the coalition of opposition parties, saying that it will save the country from drifting into one party state.

The groups, however, insisted that only a broad-based grand coalition with respect to the established regional rotational presidency would have meaningful effect.

The groups including the one led by Chief Akin Osuntokun, expressed their position after a closed door meeting on the state of the nation with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his Penthouse, located within the premises of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the General Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said the coalition was a welcome development against the troubling tendency of a one-party state.

He said “the APC emerged as a coalition which in 2013 aligned itself with the popular sentiment of regional rotation and strategically settled for a President of Northern origin by which Buhari succeeded Jonathan.

“Afenifere and other groups including the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum and the Southern Governors were in the forefront insisting uncompromisingly that only a President of Southern origin would succeed Buhari after eight years as we have it today.

“The fact speaks for itself that there can be no serious proposition today against the fullness of the eight-year tenure of the South. It is not about individual political actors or parties. It is a consensus for regional mutual respects and national political stability”.

Also speaking, a former Political Adviser to Obasanjo, Chief Akin Osuntokun, said they had a deep conversation with Obasanjo on the state of the nation.

Osuntokun said, “we are honoured for that deep conversation with Baba on the state of the nation in spite of his very tight schedule.

“It was a consultation with the indisputable father of the nation and African and world statesman.

“But you know baba for his passion for Nigeria and our position remains that Nigeria belongs to all Nigerians and leadership at the highest level should reflect our collective aspiration for fairness, inclusiveness and justice.

“No region holds an exclusive right to power and the notion of entitlement by any region or ethnic nationality to the leadership of the nation is unhealthy for national stability and its democratic growth”.

Amongst others in the group were Mr. John Ughulu, the Lagos State Coordinator and the Secretary Dr. Folaseye Adabayo of the 2023 Peter Obi Presidential Campaign Council.

The post Coalition will save Nigeria from drifting into one party state – Afenifere, others insist appeared first on Vanguard News.