The League of Northern Democrats (LND) has said Nigerians would hold leaders of the coalition responsible if their inability to tame their ambitions lead to President Bola Tinubu’s return in 2027.
The national publicity secretary of LND, Dr Ladan Salihu, who said this in a chat with LEADERSHIP, said Nigerians, in the coming months, will either celebrate the sacrifices, commitment and bravery of the coalition leaders, or condemn their inability to rise above parochial or personal sentiments and ambitions in order to rescue the nation.
But the camp of former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, a key member of the coalition, has dismissed insinuations that key members of the coalition are being distracted by presidential ambition.
One of Atiku’s top aides, Hon Ola Fabiyi, told LEADERSHIP, that said the coalition leaders are sold on recovering the country from Tinubu.
The coalition has been locked in a debate over presidential ambitions and platforms to use for the 2027 election. Series of committees have been set up to fine tune decisions on which platform to use.
But speaking with LEADERSHIP, the LND spokesman said the coalition must come to terms with the reality about the necessity to save Nigeria from the missed steps of an incapable and rudderless Government.
Salihu said the coalition leaders must prioritise rescuing the country over the gains of personal ambitions.
“In the coming months Nigerians will either celebrate the sacrifices, commitment and bravery of the coalition Leaders, or condemn them for their inability to rise above parochial or personal sentiments and ambitions in order to rescue the nation. I believe Nigerians will inevitably hold the Opposition, the coalition Leaders responsible, for the continuity of this Government beyond 2027.
“Just look at the 2023 numbers. PDP and Labour had 63% of the Presidential votes. Given the state of trauma and agony Nigerians are going through it will only require our Coalition Leaders to narrow down their differences in order to save Nigeria. This is the majority and popular expectation of Nigerians. We don’t need excuses of alibis. We need pragmatic action,” Salihu said.
On his part, Fabiyi said is a fallacious innuendos, the fear of the strength of the coalition has brought about all sorts of propaganda, lies and guesses.
“There is no such issue as the key members of the coalition being distracted by Presidential ambition. It is the figment of imagination of those who are scared of the coalition. Have you seen the coalition issued any official statements?
“They are far ahead of APC, Tinubu, Wike and other detractors. I assure you that the opposition coalition has come to stay as they are sold to recovering this country from Tinubu for the Nigerian people.
“That is what is paramount to them and Nigerians are with them on this. It is not about any of them, it is about redeeming Nigeria because the country is not faring well under Tinubu’s leadership,” he said.
