By Our Reporters

ABUJA — Opposition members of the National Assembly, yesterday, endorsed the merger of four political parties as All Progressive Congress, APC, saying that the measure would ensure true democracy and keep hope alive for Nigerians.

Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume spoke on behalf of his colleagues while Femi Gbajabiamila spoke for 160 members of the opposition in the House of Representatives.

They also said they lent their support for the emergence of a mega political party to challenge the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2015 general elections.

This was even as the ruling PDP has in a rare demonstration of the spirit of sportsmanship, congratulated the opposition parties for their successful merger and formation of the new APC.

Sen Chris Ngige, Kabiru Gaya, George Mughalu, CPC merger committee chairman, Garba Gadi, Tom Ikimi, Ibrahim ahekarau, Segun Osaba and Ahmed Yerima during the unveiling of the new party name in Abuja Wednesday.

Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State also declared that he was one of the governors elected on the platform of the PDP who prayed that the merger of four opposition political parties should be a reality.

Speaking against the backdrop of the emergence of APC, Gbajabiamila said, “This conference is called to lend our voice as an opposition group to the ongoing merger talks between the opposition parties in Nigeria. We members of the opposition in the House want to make it abundantly clear that we are fully and totally in support and committed to merging our various parties for the singular purpose of true transformation of Nigeria.

“Last Tuesday, 10 governors belonging to various parties met and publicly declared their support.. Today, over 160 legislators of the House of Representatives from different parties have also met to confirm their unflinching support for the merger. We find this public affirmation necessary so as to continue to give the Nigerian masses the much needed confidence that indeed, help is on the way and they should keep hope alive.”

Whilst this may not be an auspicious time for our colleagues in the PDP who are progressive in their orientation to key into this project, our doors remain open and we encourage those of them with progressive tendencies, and there are many, to feel the pulse of the nation and the yearnings of the masses for the progressive change our merger represents.

Indeed for political observers the merger began in the House a long time ago. We have, as an opposition, co-sponsored several bills, voted and spoken in unison on many issues that are of national importance and worked together as an opposition for the common good.

“Together, with progressive forces in the PDP we ensured the emergence of a Speaker elected independently by the House, the first in Nigeria’s democratic history. We will continue to strive to work together with the President for the common good. We will continue to disagree with him where we must and commend his efforts when they deserve commendation.

“This is the essence of true democracy and the true meaning of opposition and we trust that the PDP will also do likewise come 2015 when it plays the much needed role of opposition in our democracy. We wish to advise Mr President to disregard the advice of those who see every criticism as an attack on Mr President, They do not mean well for him. Progressive ideology must often clash with conservatism, a contest and clash of ideas, policy and ideology in an advanced democracy is just that”.

Serving opposition senators from  five political parties also said while endorsing the merger of opposition parties into the APC that the aim was to clear the rot in the present administartion.

The senators who addressed nesmen, said they endorsed the on-going merger talks among progressive parties in Nigeria because they observed that the talks were aimed at salvaging “our nation from the rot and corruption bedeviling her due to the PDP’s maladministration”.

According to the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, ACN Benue North West, who read a prepared text to newsmen, said that as representatives of the people, they had  “agreed to work enthusiastically in support of this natural rescue mission, which is a step in the right direction.

“We support our leaders; we applaud their wisdom and patriotism in their epochal drive to stem this declining tide. We also appreciate the courage of our governors.

“We call on members of our parties in our senatorial districts, our political associates and followers to work assiduously towards the realization of this national redemption project”, he said.

The text stated, “all progressive minded Nigerians are called upon, regardless of political platform to join this progressive political train. It is our faith that this collective worthwhile and noble endeavour will lead Nigerians to realize the dreams of our founding fathers to have a country that works for all and sundry.”

All the serving senators of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, and All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, were all in attendance at the press congress.

But senators of the Labour Party,LP, were not in attendance, an indication that they are not part of the merger arrangement.

But in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party, said said that as  the biggest party in West Africa, it welcomed the development as an

“We congratulate the opposition for their successful merger and the formation of the APC. This is yet another victory for our democracy. It shows  that our democracy has come of age. We hope that from now we will see robust debates on the economy and other issues of governance,” the party said.

The party then charged the opposition to use the vehicle of their new party to challenge PDP elected and appointed officers to debates on government projects and achievements so that at the end of the day, Nigerians will be the utmost beneficiaries of the nation’s political developments.

It also said it was ready and willing at anytime to debate on any issue pertaining to the economy or others that would bring out positive suggestions to move the nation forward.

“We charge the opposition to use the new party to challenge our elected and appointed officers on debates on issues of governance.  We are ready, willing and able at any time to debate on any issue pertaining to the economy or other issue of governance. We want useful and constructive debates so that at the end of the day, Nigerians will be the utmost beneficiaries”, the party said.

The PDP however said as a ruling party that was committed to the stability and development of the country, it would not dwell on the shortcomings of the merger arrangement but will continue to focus on the welfare of the people.

It then pledged to continue to be the truly, a democratic party and the party to beat in elections.

Speaking yesterday at the Public Presentation of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s book, ‘’The Accidental Public Servant” at the Yar’adua Centre, Abuja, Governor Aliyu of Niger State noted that the move will help frustrate those he described as riff-raffs from contesting for public offices especially for the office of the nation’s President as well as go a long a way in strengthening the country’s democracy.

‘’I am one of the PDP governors who is happy with the merger of opposition parties because with this, not every riff-raff will contest for president. I am praying fervently that the merger should be a reality,” he said.

However, addressing PDP supporters in Dutse, Jigawa State capital, Governor Sule Lamido who is said to be nursing a presidential ambition in 2015 on the platform of PDP dismissed the merger saying it was aimed at misinforming Nigerians on the true situation of things in the country.

Lamido stated that the merger of four major opposition political parties will fail, describing the alliance as a deceitful and political propaganda capable of making them irrelevant.

Speaking at a stakeholders forum organized by the state chapter of the  PDP, at the party’s secretariat in Dutse, Lamido stated that none of the political party will compromise one another as the alliance will only create confusion among themselves, noting that the four parties will not make the ruling and biggest party in Africa to be scared and intimidated.

His words:- “We are ready to face the so called merger as it will not make any positive impact to the political struggle. The PDP is a strong party and cannot be under rated by anybody, as such we cannot be intimidated and scared by their merger”.

Governor Lamido explained that the opposition political parties were deceiving both their supporters and themselves in their effort to gain cheap popularity in the country, pointing out that  God gives power to whom He likes and at any time He wishes. “Is ANPP going to compromise for ACN, or will APGA compromise for ANPP,?” he said.

The governor then asked his party supporters not to be scared of the so called merger of the opposition political parties as it was done based on selfish interests.