Ahead of the 2015 general elections, opposition parties have vowed to oust the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power in other to free Nigeria from political bondage.
The plans got a boost Tuesday as 10 governors united in the commercial city of Lagos to end the political journey of the acclaimed largest party in Africa.
Addressing newsmen after a closed-door meeting the lasted for hours at the Lagos House, Marina, the governors who spoke through Borno State Governor Kashim Shetima, said the aim of the meeting was to capture Nigeria from the hands of the PDP.
According to Shettima: “ we, the governors of Borno, Ekiti, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Yobe and Zamfara, rose from a meeting at Lagos House, Marina today, Tuesday , having reviewed the situation in our country , we resolved that to rescue Nigeria, is a task that must be done. “As progressives and patriotic leaders of our people across party , religious and geo-political zones , we are extremely concerned about the state of the nation, as we put our heads together in the interest of our people to deliberate on what can be done to rescue our country,” the governors said.
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha while reacting said that all hands must be on deck in other to make this dream come true. He words: “The merger has become very necessary to save our democracy and the likelihood of turning Nigeria into a one-party state does not augur well for democracy, therefore, I personally fully endorse this movement and this new merger at least to rescue the nation, and we say we are on a rescue mission here and to make sure Nigeria gets better, the essence of this whole merger is to make Nigeria a better nation, ”
Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) said: “Skepticism is one thing; the commitment that we bring to the table will certainly override any skepticism. I am convinced that the full weight of 10 of us (governors) and many more who unfortunately could not make it today, is a much stronger force. “The underlying reason is clearly how to make this country a better place, this is not the best that this country can have and we intend to deliver Nigeria’s best,” he said.
Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun who shared the same view with Fashola assured that a lot of other people will come on board once the plans begin to yield positive fruits.
“That is why we are not taking this lightly, we are very determined and I am sure that with the support of all Nigerians, this merger will work,” Amosun said.
Also Zamfara State Governor Abdul-Aziz Yari said: “The move is to fix Nigeria in the right perspective, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is something else and if we in opposition say that we are right and you as a journalist and many people outside here, go and ask them whether they are happy since 1999 till date or not, so therefore, it is a duty for all of us as leaders to drive our people right and we believe the PDP has done less.
“We have the idea, the knowledge and we have the progressive idea to move the country forward, so if you say that we intend to move the PDP out of power, yes, we are ready to do that,” he said.
Other governors present at the meeting were: Governors Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, Shettima, Okorocha, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State while Senator Degere Alkali, represented the governor of Yobe State
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