Convener of the National Consultative Forum (NcFront), Prof Pat Utomi, has justified the need for a new political party to redirect the course of Nigeria.
Recall that NcFront had earlier this week disclosed that it has begun plans to form a new political party, adding that it has already opened talks with key opposition political leaders.
The convener of the forum stated this when he featured on a political and current affairs programme on Channels TV, Politics Today.
He confirmed that they have discussed with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in 2023, former vice president Atiku Abubakar; Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, Peter Obi; and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in 2023, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Utomi, who took a swipe at the existing political structures in the country, lamented that Nigeria has not had a political party that is interested in improving the quality of life of the people since 1999.
He noted that parties were mainly a platform for state capture.
He said “Truth is that since 1999, the political class managed to root the military out, share the spoils of powers but could not improve the lives of Nigeria so we see Nigeria deteriorating”
He said Nigeria’s situation was comparable to that of India in 1999, stressing that both countries were bankrupt and had a poor quality of life.
He however noted that while India has since embarked on rational engagement and improved its status globally,
“Nigeria is in the reverse direction.”
When asked about his rule in forming All Progressives Congress (APC), he said the ruling party failed because “they didn’t want it to work from the get go,” adding “The Buhari government didn’t want the state to work.”
He further added that APC was a concoction by a few people whose objective was state capture.
Utomi recalled that as a member, he wrote several letters to the APC leadership on how the party was being run but didn’t get a response.
He said, “We want to calm down design and put in place a political party with clear ideas….clear agenda such that immediately you appear in office everybody will know what they have to do.”
He said the discussion is not about who will be the candidate in 2027, but about the values that the party should have.
“We are not thinking of 2027. We are looking for a way to make the country work for everybody. We want to build a consensus on how to solve problems, and have Nigerians who can bring solutions. We need people who are ready to make sacrifices and give of themselves with their reward being immortality.”
He lamented that some people in the world are not ready to engage with Nigeria because of the seeming collapse of values.
He added that politics in Nigeria today does not allow Nigeria to produce, stressing that there is currently no disciple to sit down and plan how to make the country productive.
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