2015: Power sharing formula threatens opposition grand alliance

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2015: Power sharing formula threatens opposition grand alliance

Written by Taiwo Adisa, Abuja Sunday, 12 August 2012

The planned merger between the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) headed by General Muhammadu Buhari appeared to have run into a fresh hitch following the failure of the negotiators on both sides to agree on power sharing formula.

Sources at recent meetings of the two parties held in Abuja confirmed that while the two parties have agreed to hold pre-merger conventions in the next two months, the Memorandum of Understading (MoU) of the planned merger cannot be signed because of what leaders of the CPC described as the need to enter into the alliance with eyes wide open.

The crew of the CPC in the merger talks led by the party’s General Secretary, Engineer Buba Galadimma, was said to have insisted on the need to avoid going into an alliance with the ACN blindly.

It was also confirmed that the All Nigeria Peoples Party(ANPP), which is believed to be favourably disposed to the merger is also in dilemma following reservations expressed by some of its chieftains about Buhari’s role in the new party.

Sources said that the new Chairman, Board of Trustees of the ANPP, Senator Alli Modu Sheriff, appeared uncomfortable with Buhari and his leadership of the CPC and could work against the planned opposition’s grand alliance.

Sources, however, said that the ACN and CPC had agreed in principle to adopt either the name Action Congress for Progressive Change (ACPC) or Action Congress Alliance (ACA) when the merger is actualised.

The parties were said to have agreed to work on the possibility of holding national conventions in the next two months to actualise this.

Besides the reservation of some CPC chieftains to the possibility of a “blind alliance” the party is also said to be confused about what to do with the faction led by Senator Rufai Hanga.

Senator Hanga is said to retain the possession of the party’s registration certificate and such a development is set to defeat the plan by the CPC to hand over its original certificate to the nation’s electoral body to facilitate a merger with the ACN.

It was gathered that the opposition parties have agreed that there is the need to hand over their certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) so as to ensure the issuance of a unified merger certificate and forestall the emergence of a faction using the original name.

A source at one of the meetings held at the CPC secretariat said of the dilemma on the planned merger, “A leader of the party who briefed the meeting was of the opinion that before the conclusion of merger between the two concerned political parties, it is necessary and important that grey areas on the issue are clearly defined and addressed.

“He mentioned such areas as who produce the President, the Vice President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Chief of Staff to the President, the sharing of ministerial portfolios, amongst others.”

He said that these issues had to be clearly addressed before the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) could be signed.

According to the CPC leader, it was because there were no clear messages on this from Senator Bola Tinubu and the leaders of the ACN that the CPC leaders were yet to sign the MoU.

He added, “ We cannot go into a blind merger with the ACN, with their eyes wide open.”

Another leader of the party at the meeting told party leaders that if Buhari would want to go into a blind political merger with the ACN, the party would not be part of it if the above issues were not resolved.

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Mr
written by olamide, August 12, 2012

What happen to the best and competent man handle the seat , the fomula of sharing power is still old trick of mismanagement , we are all Nigerians , sentiment apart , i think the idea is just self centred , leaders should be elected by merits not by who know who. Think straight Nigerians Enough of old fashion , this is digital age

opposition grand alliance
written by worom dahwot, August 12, 2012

When two poor wise people want to cook together, so many things need to be discussed. ACN and CPC are going into merger not because they need each other but because they both are desperate for power. The merger has never work so will it be always.

-1

RE:MERGER OF ACN AND CPC
written by MUSA OLAIWON, August 13, 2012

The merger between ACN and CPC will be good for the nation and be possible on one condition that the two parties put the matter before Almighty God. The bible states that unless God builds a house, the builders may be wasting their energy in vain.
If the leaders of these two parties are genuinely interested in making Nigeria great, they shouldn't be arguing about who becomes what by now
The former merger between these two parties failed because some of the parties leaders are self centred, overtly covertly over ambitious and were not interested in the masses.
The masses are crying for redeemers when President Goodluck was massively voted for on sympathy basis and and instruction of leader not to vote for their own candidate at the last minute when it mattered.
President Goodluck didn't get massive votes he got from other South Western State from Osun due to one political maturity of Osun State people.
Political jobblers may not be able to look at the face of the party leaders to tell them the truth they don't want to hear.
With what i saw when i came home in March this year, ACN needs to put it house in order before the next election. No party members should be called name by other party members so that they will not be tools in the hands of the enemies of progress, PDP.
If by omission or commission the PDP comes to power again in Nigeria, THE CPC and ACN parties leaders should be held responsible for failure to liberate the masses when it matters.
Asiwaju Tinubu and General Buari should work together for the sake of the masses and forget about becoming the next President of Nigeria. We are capable men and women that can become the President and vice Presidents respectively. Asiwaju Tinubu has spent his time, did his best and the same thing with the former Head of State, General Buari.
Nigerians don't want Rawling style of cleaning the Augean stable but at the rate the rottenness is going on in Nigeria, only God can safe the nation from anarchy.
Musa Olaiwon is a native of Ikire and a member of ACN.

SELFISHNESS
written by Tony Oghenegare, August 19, 2012

The leaders of ACN and CPC should forget selfishness and work together for the good, unity and progress of the country. Buhari's tears that he shed last will oly be meaningfuf if he gives all it take for this merger to work as it will as well prove Tinubu right that he really fought during NADECO days for the love of the country and not for selfish end.