CUPP must avoid issues that removed R-APC from APC before 2023—Maa’ji
…As experts foresee more parties joining the train
Following a scenario that suggests that the latest political alignments and realignments that led to the formation of Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) by about 40 political parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Reformed-All Progressives Congress (R-APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party and 33 others on Monday, the new mega bloc must first of identify the angers of R-APC and tame it now before any other move.
This was the position of a Lagos based political analyst, Alhaji Aliyu Maa’ji. Speaking to our correspondent in a telephone interview, he said “had it been the leadership of APC and the presidency in particular allowed reason to prevail, there would have been no need for the emergence of R-APC.
“The problem started when the then opposition parties made up of Buhari’s CPC, Tinubu’s ACN and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu’s ANPP merged without clearly spelling out what will go to who at any time within the life of the party. Now the scenario has presented itself again at CUPP.
“I want to advise the interim leadership of the Coalition to right now do a clean job that will not create any room for feeling of marginalization by any member between now and 2023 when they will seek reelection after winning next year’s election.
According to Maa’ji, “The picture I just painted now was where APC got it wrong and they are paying for it now”.
Besides, several political observers say with a strong and strategic structural organization, there are chances of more smaller political parties aligning with CUPP ahead of general elections next year.
However, they argue that going forward, the Nigerian political space will shrink further to either two or less than four political parties before 2019 election.
This is as the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) has reacted to the emergence of CUPP, saying the ongoing ‘gang up’ against the party and specifically, Buhari’s reelection bid will not work.
Business Hilights gathered that key resolutions reached by CUPP on Monday include adopting the name, backing a unity presidential candidate, making efforts to remove President Buhari in 2019 Election and rescuing Nigeria from brink of collapse due to insecurity and widening gaps of divisions which the country had never seen before even during the Nigeria-Biafra war.
Besides, lead in the resolution was the understanding that CUPP will field a single presidential candidate to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari.
Other political parties, which signed the MoU are: Action Alliance (AA), Action Peoples Party (APP), Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Better Nigeria Progressive Party (BNPP), C4C, Democratic Alternative (DA), Democratic People’s Congress (DPC), Equity and Progress, GDPN, Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Kowa Party, Forward Ever, Mass Action Joint Alliance, Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), Service and Progress.
Also signed the MoU are: National Conscience Party (NCP), New Generation Party (NGP), National Unity Party (NUP), Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM), NIP, NDCP, Peoples Alliance for National Development & Liberty (PANDL), Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), People for Democratic Change (PDC), Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Providence People’s Congress (PPC), RBNP, Restoration Party of Nigeria, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Young Democratic Party (YDP) and All Grassroots Alliance (AGA).
The parties MoU read by Chief Tom Ikimi said in parts; “The parties shall work together to ensure the emergence of a joint presidential candidate of which modalities for this collegiate process shall be under a separate agreement by the parties.
“The parties shall promote a positive reaction to the above listed failures of the present regime and to give hope to all our people. The parties shall ensure that the coalition is committed to working together in support of the single presidential candidate to contest the 2019 presidential election in order to successfully enthrone a true democrat who will salvage the nation from the misrule of the APC government.
“The parties shall promote acceptable core values for the restructuring of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, secure lives and property, rebuild and redirect our nation’s economy back onto the part of growth, respect human rights and freedoms, protect and uphold the cherished values of democracy and the democratic institutions and generally put right the country which unfortunately has now been dangerously divided along ethnic, religious and tribal lines.
“The parties shall encourage state alliance between themselves to ensure that the cooperating parties under the grand alliance emerge victorious at state governorship, state legislature and National Assembly elections.
“The parties accept the policy of zoning political and elective offices between the six geopolitical zones of the federation. The parties shall ensure that the emergent president under the grand alliance shall treat the presentation of an executive Bill on restructuring and devolution of power to the National Assembly a major priority.
“The parties shall ensure that the leadership in the National Assembly initiates its own process to enable a Bill on restructuring and devolution of power if this becomes necessary.”
Some of the dignitaries at the event were Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Chief Tom Ikimi, Sen. Dino Melaye, serving and former governors, including Mr Peter Obi.
However, former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke who has since declared his interest to run for residency was absent.
