National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Bamanga Tukur on Wednesday reacted to the merger by opposition parties in the country, saying the PDP will defeat the newly formed party come 2015.
Parties including the All Nigeria Peoples Party, Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change, and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, yesterday announced that they have come under one roof to be known as All Progressive Congress, APC.
Speaking shortly after the inauguration, Tom Ikimi, who heads ACN’s merger committee said “At no time in our national life has radical change become more urgent”
“And to meet the challenge, we, the following political parties, namely ACN, ANPP, APGA and CPC have resolved to merge forthwith and become All Progressive Congress and offer to our beleaguered people a recipe for peace and prosperity.
“We resolve to form a political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on serious issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth etc, and stop the increasing mood of despair and hopelessness among our people.”
“The resolution of these issues, the restoration of hope, the enthronement of true democratic values for peace, democracy and justice are those concerns which propel us.
“We believe that by these measures only shall we restore our dignity and position of pre-eminence in the comity of nations. This is our pledge.”
The other parties were represented by Annie Okonkwo (APGA), Garba Sadi (CPC), and Ibrahim Shekarau (ANPP).
But in his remark, Tukur said the ruling party would apply the talent of Argentine soccer superstar, Lionel Messi, in dealing with the new coalition.
His words: “If you go for a contest, you have the striker. You know Lionel Messi?,” he asked.
“PDP is Messi in that contest. We will dribble them like Messi. Tell them chairman said PDP is the Messi”
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