{"id":2557,"date":"2013-04-23T02:34:22","date_gmt":"2013-04-23T02:34:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disnaija.com\/nigerian-newspapers\/buhari-tinubu-to-pdp-pack-and-go\/"},"modified":"2013-04-23T02:34:22","modified_gmt":"2013-04-23T02:34:22","slug":"buhari-tinubu-to-pdp-pack-and-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disnaija.com\/buhari-tinubu-to-pdp-pack-and-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Buhari, Tinubu to PDP: pack and go"},"content":{"rendered":"
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For the umpteenth time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday got the red card from the opposition camp.<\/p>\n

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu told the PDP to be ready to quit in 2015.<\/p>\n

The duo spoke in Lagos at the public presentation of a book \u201cWitness to history: Action Congress of Nigeria and its struggle for democracy, liberty and justice\u201d.<\/p>\n

The 642-page book, written by ACN National Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was unveiled at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos.<\/p>\n

The event was chaired by Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.<\/p>\n

The opposition leaders reiterated their determination for change in 2015. They urged Nigerians to support the push for power shift to the progressives by the All Progressives Congress (APC).<\/p>\n

Gen. Buhari, the CPC leader and former military Head of State, spoke on the need to consolidate the merger of the like-minded opposition parties before stepping up the mobilisation of the various constituencies for political action.<\/p>\n

Tinubu charged Nigerians to get set for the future electoral contests, adding that \u201cPDP should go in 2015\u201d.<\/p>\n

Seasoned poet, Odia Ofeimun, who reviewed the book, praised the author for his courage and sense of duty. He said: \u201cThis is not a review, but a statement; a compendium of the publicity output of the party\u2019s spokesman challenging the business-as-usual approach of those in power at the centre. The book is the defender of the public memory of the political situation in the country\u201d.<\/p>\n

Dignitaries at the ceremony included: host governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola former Lagos State Governor Lateef Jakande, his wife, Alhaja Abimbola, ACN National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and wife, Angela, former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, former Lagos State Deputy Governor Sarah Sosan, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd), Dr. Amos Akingba, Chief Tom Ikimi, Senators James Kolawole, Olabiyi Durojaye, Chris Ngige, Olufemi Lanlehin, Oluremi Tinubu, Babafemi Ojudu, Gbenga Obadara, Ayo Adeseun, Sola Adeyeye, Ganiyu Solomon, Olorunnimbe Mamora and Prof. Adebayo Williams, and Prof. Ropo Sekoni.<\/p>\n

Also at the ceremony were the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, his deputy, Kolawole Taiwo, Secretary to Lagos State Government Dr. Oluranti Adebule, Olawale Osun, Oba Olatunji Hamzat, Otunba Busura Alebiosu, Mr. Olorunfunmi Basorun, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Otunba Dele Ajomale, Chief Rasak Okoya, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, Prof. Idowu Sobowale, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Alhaji Ganiyu Badmus, Mrs. Wonuola Folami, Yemi Cardoso, Chief Sam Bolarinde, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, who was the Master of Ceremony and Mohammed\u2019s wife, Kudira Adeoti.<\/p>\n

Urging the progressives to remain committed to change, Buhari said: \u201cLet us agree to come together and give an alternative to Nigeria. We should consummate this merger and mobilise our constituencies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The CPC leader noted that Nigerians were eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the merger in readiness for the next elections, stressing that \u201cnobody will want to rig because it will not pay.\u201d Buhari commended the ACN for its successful convention in Lagos, assuring that the CPC and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) will follow suit in Abuja and Zamfara State respectively on May 11.<\/p>\n

Hailing the author, Buhari, who wrote the foreward to the book, applauded his single mindedness, intellectual capacity, hardwork, consistency and courage, adding that every school library in the country should have the book on its shelve.<\/p>\n

Tinubu observed that the presentation of the book was timely, coming after the last convention of the APC, which has heralded its merger into the APC. Noting that the APC has a permanent place in history, the former Lagos State governor said: \u201cDemocracy, justice and liberty may move slowly, but when they gain momentum, nobody can stop them. That is why I talked about positive storm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the APC, we will form a bigger party that will accomplish bigger things for Nigeria. This is a bigger project with an agenda for change. That was why ACN has made a sacrifice for the greater good. We should not call ourselves the opposition again. We are the progressives and government-in-waiting. Those in power only believe in what good governance oppose.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have witnessed their empty history. Let them be a witness for our fruitful one. The US State Department has been decrying their impunity and corruption. The presidential aides are blind people embellishing facts. They attack the messengers, rather than heeding the message. We do not oppose for the sake of it. We stand for democracy, fairness, justice, harmony, unity, the eradication of corruption. We oppose indifference to bad governance, unemployment and insecurity.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur overriding vision is to gain power at the centre for progressive change. The storm is here. That storm is a positive storm. APC is the storm that will sweep them away. It is time for those in power to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lauding Mohammed, who he described as a wise man and a one-man army for his sagacity, competence and commitment to the growth of democracy, Tinubu said that he has been issuing press releases with the rapidity of a machine gun and turned them into a weapon of truth.<\/p>\n

Fashola, who welcomed the guests, recalled that he had succeeded Mohammed as Tinubu\u2019s Chief of Staff, noting that the astute lawyer and politician performed well in office by setting up the logistics, which facilitated the success of his tenure.<\/p>\n

He said the book has told the story of a party that has become yardstick for good government and governance.<\/p>\n

Firing the salvo at the PDP, Fashola said: \u201cA party is saying that there is no vacancy in the highest office in the land. Why are they organising elections then? There will be vacancy in 2015.\u201d<\/p>\n

Governor Aliyu frowned at late-coming to events, advising dignitaries to send representatives, if they cannot keep to time. He observed that the ceremony was rich in attendance by attracting tall people like Gen. Buhari and Speaker Ikuforiji and short people like Mallam el-Rufai and Dr. Ngige.<\/p>\n

Replying Fashola, he said: \u201cWe are not saying that there will be no election. There will be election to give you the task to participate. We are not saying that there will be no vacancy. We are saying that you should work hard. I was the first party to pray for the success of the merger so that we will not take things for granted. There is the need for options in democracy. But we should not allow personal ambition to becloud the general interest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aliyu clarified that his presence at the book presentation did not translate into defection from the PDP, stressing that he had deliberately asked the Niger State PDP chairman, Alhaji Mahmud Batanga, to accompany him to Lagos for the ceremony.<\/p>\n

The governor cautioned against viewing issues of national importance from the prism of narrow partisan ship, adding that nation-building and development go beyond political partisanship.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cAs politicians, we are not up to 10 percent of the people and we decide the fate of all the people. We must listen to all perspectives.\u201d<\/p>\n

Applauding the role of the opposition, Aliyu said: \u201cLai Mohammed has been asking us to understand what Nigerian politics has been and what it will be. If you want to excel, you must have enemies that will put you on your toes. opposition is always there to help you to look at the other side of the coin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Osibajo praised Mohammed\u2019s devotion to image making, he said that he has become the peoples\u2019 publicity secretary.<\/p>\n

Ipaye, who read Mohammed\u2019s profile, said that as the country has proceeded on the fast lane to development, it should be remembered that the author is one of the engineers of the movement. He added: \u2018He is a thinker, strategist and wise counselor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other dignitaries at the ceremony included Dr. Remi Desalu, Dr. Wale Adebanwi, Hon. Omotilewa Aro-Lambo, Dr. Samuel Adedayo, Hakeem Fashinro, Dr. Leke Pitan, Prof. Abisogun Leigh, Jide Jimoh, Ayodele Adewale, Abiodun Mafe, James Faleke, Rotimi Agunsoye, Jide Sanwolou, Kaoli Olusanya, Segun Dawodu, Chris Ekwilo, Ademola Seriki, Femi Gbajabiamila, Yakubu Balogun, Kemi Nelson, Dele Belgore (SAN), Pastor Eze Iyamu, Chief Adedoyin, Sunday Adepoju, Yekini Alabi, Ismaila Tua, Bolaji Ariyoh, Ife Oyedele, Segun Babatope, Meriko Ebikebina, and Wale Ahmed.<\/p>\n

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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. <\/a>A DisNaija.Com<\/a> network.<\/p>\n

Source: The Nation Newspaper<\/p>\n

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