2019: At last, Obasanjo’s CNM metamorphoses to political party unveiled as ADC
Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM), conceptualized by former President Olusegun Obasanjo shortly after his open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on why he should forget seeking re-election in 2019 general election on Thursday, upgraded to a political party to be known and addressed as African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Early signal to the metamorphosis emerged on Wednesday, when one of the co-convener of the Movement, Prince Olagunsoye Onyinlola, in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari announced his resignation from the appointment as the board chairman of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) with a poser that he is leaving so that he can pursue his new found love movement.
However, considering Obasanjo’s earlier stand in assuming a statesman when he torn his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card, it was not clear that he will still remain active in the activities of ADC, but may rather work from behind the scene to realise his self acclaimed dream of a new Nigeria.
Addressing the press at his presidential library home in Abeokuta, he averred that “Let me start by welcoming and commending the emergence of a renewed and reinvigorated African Democratic Congress, ADC, as a political party.
“Since the inception of Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, many of the sixty-eight registered political parties had contacted and consulted with the Movement on coming together and working together.
“The leadership of the Movement, after detailed examination, wide consultation and bearing in mind the orientation, policies and direction of the Movement; have agreed to adopt ADC as its platform to work with others for bringing about desirable change in the Nigeria polity and governance.”
Earlier in his address, Prince Onyinlola said ADC has come to stay and will begin with contesting every elections scheduled to hold this year and next, adding that the party is ready to partner with real progressives who are ready to join forces together to rescue the country from imminent collapse.
Oyinlola explained that with this development, CNM has ceased to exist, having formally collapsed into a political party.
“We have said it before and we are stating it here again that the current state of despair and despondency in our dear country is an ill wind.
“It is foreboding and can only lead to a conflagration. Between January when CNM was formed and now, can we say that the story of Nigeria has changed for the better? Have things not worsened at all levels? According to him,
“I thank all of you for being here today. You will all recall that in January this year, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement, CNM, was formed by some of us across the country as a political platform to create a new generation of leaders for our country.
“Between that time and today, a lot of grounds has been covered in achieving the set goals. One of such is what we are doing here today – the formal fusing of – our movement into the African Democratic Congress.
“Beyond what we are doing here today, we put our countrymen and women, old and young, on notice that they should expect more from us; that they should expect deepened political engagements across platforms in the coming days and weeks. In other words, this is just the first in a multi layered action plan to give back the country to its much deprived people.
“As we stated in January during the launch of the CNM, we are taking on this task not minding the inconveniences and other expected and unexpected consequences of our efforts at reinventing the country.
“We admit that structural inadequacies and failure of leadership have robbed our country of greatness. We also note that a future of greatness for Nigeria will only be birthed by a new generation of youthful leaders with fresh ideas and knowledge of what it takes to govern a 21 st century nation.
“This gathering here today is a proof that the modest efforts at waking up the vast majority of our people to for once, take their destiny in their hands as demanded by the constitution are bearing fruits already. Our constitution guarantees all Nigerians their fundamental human rights, including freedom of association and the right to hold political views.
“The decision to move in to African Democratic Congress therefore, is an appreciation of the progressive essence of the party and its untainted existence on the terrain of our nation’s politics.
“While I on behalf of the leadership and the over three million members of the CNM congratulate ADC as the vehicle for national reinvention, I urge us to let us know that the task ahead is an arduous one that needs further strengthening of the forces of change. What I am saying is that we should be open to new engagements and alliances being forged and crystallizing across the country,” he said.
Also speaking, another stalwart of the party, said ADC is ready to work with any political party that share its vision of rescuing Nigeria from the current clueless administration in the country in 2019 general election.
