Before  2011 elections Nigerian opposition parties have made serious efforts  to form a united alliance to dismantle  PDP from 16 years on the grief of power. These efforts did not yield desired result, eventually they all parted their ways.

After  2011 elections proper, it became clear had  the opposition articulate their positions and galvanized the goodwill of Nigerians across various strata and divide, they could be able to at least forced INEC to  conduct for the first  time a run-off of elections in Nigeria.

In the current dispensation the opposition are at the helm of affairs in Lagos, Ogun,  Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Ekiti, and Osun   in the former Western region. And controlling Imo and Anambra in the Eastern region. And Yobe, Borno, Nassarawa and Zamfara states in the North. Virtually holding sway in one third of the country.

In less than a year after failing  to capture power at the centre, the opposition is now gearing up early to forged a common front  and re-engineer their platforms to  have an alternative and effect a positive change to the current political set up in the country.

The parties apparatchiks are making headway to formed a new party between CPC, the party that came second in the last presidential elections, ACN the party which sweeps all Yoruba dominated states and ANPP which had controlled  many states in the North since 1999.

The aim of the fusion and the idea of single entity with national outlook is for progressives to come together to push out Jonathan government and end the misrule and bad governance of the PDP, which according to them has failed Nigerians in all sectors. There is no employment for the youth, no security, and no power and above all the rate of corruption has increased and highly placed Nigerians can’t even be touched.

Now the vexing question is, which option is better for the oppositions in true sense, a strong and formidable alliance or total merger?   Joe Igbokwe spokesman of ACN in Lagos says “The merger is at an advanced stage, it is going to  work and all the needed measures have been put in place to ensure it works.” Also in one of the several interviews he gave to press, National Chairman of ANPP, Chief Ogbonnoya Onu said  ” The whole thing is on the table, you come, we discuss, though the ultimate thing is  for us to get a merger. But if we can’t get merger, then coalition or alliance, as some people may call it.”

But Shekarau, the Chairman of National Re-building and Inter-Party Contact Committee of opposition parties has move further in foreclosing any option of alliance. ” The merger plan  will be concluded not later than the first quarter of 2013 so that we would have at least two years to go into every nook and cranny of the country before the 2015 general elections” According to him the new identity of the merger is to be unveiled in 2013  taking a symbol, a flag and any other identity from the parties, so that every party will have  a sense of belonging or all  will just forget their identities for a  new one.

It seems former Kano state governor and presidential flag bearer of ANPP Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has accepted the idea of merger hook, line and sinker. Likewise ACN leaders  and strongmen of CPC.

Even though, there are insinuations in some quarters that in the first, second and this  republic experience  has proved that alliance is not the best option. But looking closely we will noticed that  all previous coalitions were built on shaky foundations culminating in their failure. Also taking into cognizance  our democratic past  during these periods all efforts at alliance were only marriage of convenience both NPC/NCNC after elections in the first republic, there was no similar alliance before elections in the presidential experience of the NPN era in the second republic and the PDP rule in the fourth.

That is why  I doubt much in the feasibility of these forces to converge as a single entity and defeat PDP in the forthcoming 2015 general elections. This is after considering two factors; enormous influence of Buhari and his interest in CPC, his party, which is highly enmeshed in crises across all its stronghold  in one hand and that of interested parties in  ANPP/ACN on the other hand.

My fear is when opposition came as a single body they risk being an easy prey to the ruling PDP. Whenever PDP used hammer at the right position, it will wound the opposition and may even killed it. It is  simpler for it to confront an enemy with  gigabytes  of internal liabilities and local problems. But if a working relationship was build between various fronts and which is sustainable, even if PDP was able to penetrate through backdoor the impact will be minimal and can be tackled from many angles.

Shekarau’s committee and other party leaders should developed a frame work for the opposition parties to retain their states  and formed an alliance through these suggested scenarios. Firstly, the parties should concentrate on finding a suitable presidential candidate from North West geo-political zone and his running mate from South West Zone. This is because CPC is very  popular with the conservative Northern electorate, it is also easier to cheap on its popularity. Similarly, since South West zone have the culture of voting en bloc conceding vice presidential candidate to the area will translate to huge votes and patronage.

Secondly, established  opposition parties which are not in government of the state and  who are willing to participate in the merger should collapsed all their structures and people in the party of the government. What in intended to show is DPP, CPC, ANPP, APGA, LP in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Edo and Osun  should collapses into ACN. But if there happen to be a strong candidates of either NASS or state assemblies from other parties than the leading government of states then  should be given chance to run on the platform of ACN. This arrangement should apply in Nassarawa state for CPC and also for ANPP in Zamfara, Borno and Yobe states, LP in Ondo state. If its effected, the other parties should use their energies, resources and give their full support to the success of the leading opposition  party in the state. But this should be with a proviso  that  when successful, a unity government will be formed  were all will participate in the development of the state.

Thirdly, states were  in the  previous elections have performed well or were able to  formed government and currently have either members of NASS or state assembly, other parties should collapsed into the leading opposition. For instance, in Kano ACN, CPC  should merge into ANPP, but if there are strong contenders for elective offices with capacity to win in  CPC/ACN they should be allowed and given chance  under the banner of ANPP to be the flag bearers. Using this formula, Sokoto as a stronghold of Bafarawa should be handed over to ANPP the rest of parties to follow. Also  since national chairman of ANPP hails from Ebonyi, other parties: APGA and PPA should submerged into ANPP.  But in Katsina, Kaduna, Abuja , Bauchi, Gombe, and Niger states all other parties should collapsed into CPC as  the party has a strong outing in the previous elections and there followers are still intact. In Plateau, Benue, Jigawa, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Bayelsa and Taraba ACN should be given a field day there. Imo state and other states of Igbo land with the exception of Ebonyi here APGA should be allowed to lead others. In the remaining South-south states Delta, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River any party that came second in the most recent elections, its aspirants should be supported wholeheartedly.

May be this simple political arithmetic will assist opposition parties and serve as   another option to consolidate their local gains at the centre. This calculations was based on its practicability with little casualties, and to avoid and address mass grievances that may arise in the cause of merger. To further and strengthen internal democracy. Also their structures will remained firmed and intact, even when there are need for reshufflement,  accommodation of new members with their established leanings and groupings, in the alliance will not be as cumbersome as if a new party is formed.

The essence of this method in all, is to defeat PDP in 2015 elections, first at local level, then at national. The moment  opposition were able to capture  power at the centre there parties should came under one strong umbrella for effectiveness, control and stability. It is here after consolidation of power the issue of frame work and structure of total merger will come up for deliberation, adoption and implementation, not now!

–

Bello Muhammad Sharada

resides in Kano and can be reached

Thru:mbsharada@yahoo.com

or 08059165260

Dear Santa, everybody has wishes for this Christmas (and they should have).Usually, I do not have one. I go through the Christmas season without requesting for anything. This Christmas though, I want to make an exception. I have to ask you for something.

First, there is this issue of the Mayan’s false prophecy about the end of the world. That prophecy caused so much panic among people such that some even became temporarily born again. Many believed that the end of the world had definitely come upon us. I remember that one barrister actually believed that a comet would hit our planet. You see, my problem with the prophecy was that it actually turned learned people into illiterates and also muddled up proclaimed believers’ understanding of the Bible. It is not good that the ignorance and hypocrisy of man were made so blatant, don’t you think? Even, rumours started spreading too, of NASA’s prediction of a three day darkness that will culminate in the birth of a new world. Some people even went to the extent of moving travelling itinerary and stocking food in preparation. Others placed their hopes of a change in fortune on the birth of this new world. As you know, it did not happen. Hypothesis has betrayed mankind.

Betrayal is also another thing about humans that has become so vivid in our world today. One does not even know who to trust again. Take for instance a video guy that I vouched for as being a man of integrity. He took my cousin’s wedding job so unserious after he was paid the complete fee. You see, my problem with this is that it is also my integrity that has been called into action. Man has betrayed man, so I am now the scapegoat.

Betrayal in businesses is also rampant. As my people say, the tone of voice used in borrowing money is not the same used when it is time to pay back. So you start off a business as brothers and along the line, a man shows he is human and tries to play a fast one. It is at this time that ‘brother’ betrays brother. Humans are shallow minded though. One girl believed so much that she is such a good singer that Beyonce cannot even lace her boots. Pride went ahead and she fell harder than the tortoise. Not before betraying the guy who invested so much on her.

I am also bothered about a wife’s penchant for stringing up accusations of infidelity where there is none. So husband accuses wife back, and a wedge is thrown in between. Some say it is immaturity, others lack of understanding, some more cite the past, and others say it is the ‘malaise of our time’. Whichever one that it is, it is nerve racking and destructive. Trust is the core ingredient for a successful relationship. Unfortunately, it is now in short supply. People say love conquers all, but if you refuse to forgive past mistakes, then your love should be called into question.

Dear Santa, I know that right now, you will be wondering what my Christmas wish is. Bear with me please. Just a few more complaints and I will tell you.

I am worried about the spate of air crashes in our country. I know it is very abnormal and stems from corruption. Is it not corruption that will make an official certify an incapable plane as fit to fly? The unsuspecting passengers of Dana paid the price with their innocence. Tell me,Yakowa and Azazi, would we say theirs was plain accident? Many have their doubts, I am not exempted. Some say it was justice, I say,’ check for malpractice’.

“Check for malpractice” too in the gruesome murder of the ALUU Four. The true story will never be heard. There is something else we have not heard. Yet nobody can deny the glaring picture of man’s inhumanity to man. Time will heal the wounds of those directly affected. As for the young men, if they could, they would have wished for the same thing I will soon wish for here.

I have read somewhere in the Holy Book that money answereth all things. This is truer in my country than anywhere else. That is why we all are in a rat race, killing, duping, forging, stealing, kidnapping, bunkering, polithieving and all other things just to make money. Here, if you have no money, you better go hang yourself. Money has broken many homes, rendered many youths violent, turned children against parents ,and most importantly, has led to the death of many. Even the betrayal I talked about earlier stems from money. How else would you explain some people riding on the back of others to get what they want under the guise that the final product is for the benefit of themselves and the people who rode them piggy-back? How else would you explain the erosion of love in families when parents, siblings or children feel the other is not financially there for them? I can give more instances, but one more would suffice: ever heard of a guy dating a ‘top class’ girl when he cannot afford to take her on an expensive date? I rest my case.

Now Santa, since we have agreed that money is important in this world, I know you must be thinking that I want to ask you for money. Well, money is good, but I do not want to ask you for money. On this Christmas day, what I want to ask you for is a return to childhood.

As a child, the end of the world prophecy would have meant nothing to me. As a child, I would not care about betrayal or money. I want a return to those good old days when Christmas was all about rice, chicken, and a new cloth with plastic eye glasses. It was a carefree time Santa. I know that your stock of gifts is limited. Somehow too, I am guessing that you cannot grant me my wish. All the same, I feel relieved that at least I have asked. As my people would say, “let us keep making sacrifices so that blames would be cast on our ancestors”.

Livin’ my life a legend immortalized in pictures!…Fast cars and jewels…

Twitter: @liliemmyz
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