Mega party: We’re irrevocably committed – Tinubu

…visits Alaafin along with Ajimobi, Akande

By Emmanuel Aziken & ola ajayi

IBADAN—NATIONAL Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, said leaders of the three leading opposition parties were making steady progress on the planned merger of the parties.

The parties are ACN, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC and All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP.

This came as he described the Alaafin of Oyo,Oba Lamidi Adeyemi as a courageous leader who must not be deterred by the recent fire outbreak that ravaged part of his palace.

Tinubu spoke when he alongside Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State,  National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, National Vice-Chairman (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi and the National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, among others visited the palace to commiserate with Alaafin.

The former governor of Lagos State said they were irrevocably committed to the formation of the mega party, saying after the merger of the three parties, a new party would emerge that would give the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, a good fight in the 2015 elections.

ACN leader, Bola Tinubu

He declared that the merger talk was not governed by any selfish gains but for the betterment of the people in Nigeria.
Tinubu said: “We, as leaders, must be ready to make sacrifices, be ready to bring our character and value together to ensure that we build an understanding that will bring good governance. It is not about us. It is about the country. It is about commitment to democracy and value. That is what we are doing.”

He assured Nigerians that “this time around, we are again reinstating the fact that we are irrevocably committed; mark my word, irrevocably committed to the merger, making it become one party, one platform with shared vision and commitment to rescue Nigeria from the jaw of the drifting ship of this administration”.

On the visit to the Alaafin, Tinubu assured the Alaafin that the party and the Yoruba nation were solidly behind him.
A statement issued by Tinubu’s media office quoted the ACN national leader as saying“Our leader, courageous, powerful and consistent and effective leader. I salute your courage over time. You have the fire. You have the thunder. We are glad you are well”.
Governor Ajimobi in turn praised Oba Adeyemi as one of the most enlightened and seasoned rulers in the country.