A former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has declared that the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA) endorsement of President Bola Tinubu re-election in 2027 was a renewal of Zikist Alliance.
Okechukwu, who is a founding member of All Progressives Congress (APC), disclosed this on Sunday in Enugu while addressing journalists on the importance of Anambra State governor, Charles Soludo and APGA’s unanimous pronouncement declaring total support to President Tinubu’s second term bid.
It would be recalled that Governor Soludo had during President Tinubu’s recent official working visit to Anambra State, declared that “APGA has officially adopted President Tinubu.”
“APGA and the All Progressives Congress (APC) would work together during the 2027 election, as both parties share a common belief in progressivism,” Soludo had said.
The APC chieftain welcomed Governor Soludo’s move as strategic renewal of the Zikist Alliance of the 1950s when late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was a member of Western House of Assembly and Malam Umaru Altine from Sokoto was elected first Mayor of Enugu City.
He also recalled the NPN/NPP alliance of the Second Republic, which he said, worked perfectly well.
“This is a masterstroke foundation of the Nigeria which need renewal today; instead of ultra-polarisation and ethno-nationalism.
“I salute Governor Soludo, this was my position back in 2003 when we elected Rt. Hon. Chuba Okadigbo as President Buhari’s vice presidential candidate; that Ndigbo (Igbo people) should neither disengage nor put all their eggs in one PDP’s basket.
“This is especially when Ndigbo resides and invests in all the nooks and crannies of our dear country.
“I am not a fan of one party state, it’s antithetical to democracy. For me sincerely, APC doesn’t need one party state to win 2027 General Election.
“All we need is to advance Gross National Happiness. Did not we (members of APC) win 2015, 2019 and 2023 General Elections under multi-party system?” Okechukwu asked.
He noted that Nigeria has over 10 political parties, uncountable tendencies and cannot slide into one party system, albeit “when we reckon that there is a coalition in the making.”
The former VON boss added, “Yes, there’s palpable phobia of one party state, because of dominance of political bandits of stomach infrastructure hue in our landscape.
“However, political bandit is like proverbial Roman god Janus with two faces, I hope I am not vindicated, one is not among those who underrate the opposition and the looming coalition of different tendencies, which may return us into two dominant political parties in multiparty system.”
Reminded that two dominant political parties in multiparty system is impossible when governors, senators and others are all moving into the APC? Okechukwu answered in the affirmative that the state governors were the political warlords on the ground.
“But, don’t forget that the electorate are not quartered in a dormitory, therefore may not sheepishly follow the defectors as assumed.
“My takeaway lesson in my over 40 years in partisan politics is not to rate any gathering as storm in a teacup.
“My candid advice to the leadership of my great party, the APC, is not to rest on the euphoria of the gale of defections. For one anticipates gruesome electioneering campaign in 2027,” Okechukwu added.
