ADC: Coalition lied about threat of one party state in Nigeria – Fashola
Former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, has said the newly formed coalition of political leaders is a manifestation of a right to choose, a freedom of choice, a freedom to associate, adding it should be respected.
Speaking on Channels Television, Fashola pointed out that the coalition put out a big lie when it tried to make Nigerians believe that Nigeria was going to become a one party state.
Political leaders such as former Vice president, Alhaji Atiku, former Senate President, David Mark, former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, among many others, recently formed a coalition which is now operating on the platform of African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Some of the mentioned leaders are now dumping their political parties, decamping to the ADC. Most recently, Atiku Abubakar resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Following the wave of defection by governors and lawmakers from other political parties to the APC in recent months, there was the fear that Nigeria was heading to a one-party state.
However, Fashola, who highlighted the importance of the Coalition, said the issue of a one party state was never the case.
“There are many things to take away from those developments. I think perhaps the first is that it puts a lie, a big lie, to the story making the rounds about eight weeks ago that Nigeria was going to become a one party state.
“So it puts a lie to that because there is an opposition or some quality, whatever that quality.
“Maybe the second point to make is that it is a manifestation of a right to choose, a freedom of choice, a freedom to associate, and one must respect that, as I do.
“In terms of the political consequences, there are many things I’m waiting to see. It’s not just about gathering ourselves together and saying,, ‘we want to change Nigeria’. It is very well and good but what is the compelling alternative message?
“So that without a manifesto, without a program of action, I can’t speak to how persuasive the coalition will be, but there’s still a distance to run. So those are my initial thoughts.
“I respect and the right to associate, and Nigeria perhaps benefits from the reawakening of opposition from what has been a long slumber.
“If you ask me, the opposition essentially abdicated their responsibility over the last two years.
ADC: Coalition lied about threat of one party state in Nigeria – Fashola
