The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday made mockery of renowned Economist, Prof. Pat Utomi over plans to spearhead merger of political parties but predicted that he would fail again.
The party was reacting to Utomi’s statement regarding a possible merger or collaboration between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) ahead of the 2027 elections in Nigeria.
Arise News reports that Utomi had revealed that three presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, Peter Obi of PDP and Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP, have agreed to form a formidable party that will sack the APC in 2027.
According to him, after having a conversation with the three political heavyweights, he agreed to form a mega party that would take over the country’s leadership, saying Nigerians need people who would make sacrifices for the development of the nation.
Utomi had said, “We need people who sacrifice themselves to build a great country with the possible reward of immortality…Yes, I’ve had conversations with Atiku Abubakar, I’ve had conversations with Engineer Rabiu Kwankwaso, I have had conversations with Peter Gregory Obi, and people like Ralph Okey Nwosu of ADC are some of those that would probably constitute some of the bases.
“And I’ve said to them, it’s not about you. It’s about Nigeria, it’s about the ordinary person in this state. It’s about genuinely moving from this business of sharing trickles from oil sales to how we can become one of the most productive economies because our (natural) endowments allow that. Still, our politics has not allowed Nigerian people to produce.”
But the APC in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, described Utomi as a serial promoter of mega parties which never materialize.
He said, “As a serial promoter of mega parties that never materialize, Prof. Pat Utomi’s statement cannot be taken that seriously. In 2021, Prof Utomi and his collaborators disturbed the airwaves with plans to launch a people-centered ideological mega party under the auspices of the National Consultative Front (NCFront) to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). That plan did not go past the news headlines.
“Now in 2024, Prof. Utomi is touting a possible merger or collaboration between the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the PDP, vastly the political parties, he has argued, that are bereft of any ideological orientation or ‘did not manage to create an alignment with the Nigerian People to improve the quality of their lives.’
“One can only infer that Prof. Utomi may be positing that his personal involvement in the proposed alliance will transmogrify the same parties, he has adjudged to be decadent and anti-people, into bastions of political and economic liberty for Nigerians. That is an unmitigated delusion of grandeur.”c
Meanwhile, the party has celebrated its founding interim National Chairman of and former Governor of Osun State, Chief Adebisi Akande, on his 85th birthday anniversary on January 16, 2024.
Morka said the APC joined family, friends, associates and party faithful to give a befitting toast to a patriot, elder statesman, veteran grassroots politician, administrator par excellence, and an icon of political progressivism.
He said, “APC owes a debt of gratitude to Chief Akande for his invaluable contribution to the party’s founding and for his leadership that laid the foundation for our massive and historic electoral victory in the 2015 general elections.
“A father figure, a unifier and strident voice of reason, Chief Akande remains a stable and selfless promoter of peace and reconciliation among leaders and members of our great Party.
“On behalf of our National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, the National Working Committee (NWC), leaders and members of our great party, we pray God to continue to bless and be gracious to Chief Akande, and grant him long life, excellent health and divine wisdom as he continues his illustrious service to our party and country.” ARISETV
