National coalition agenda is to produce Atiku presidency- Kachikwu

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) 2023 Presidential Candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, says contrary to the claim of rescuing power, the National Coalition of Political Opposition Movement is designed to produce Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate in 2027.

Kachikwu at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja said that the coalition was not about the interest of Nigeria but to satisfy interest of some politicians who did not want to relinquish power to the new generations.

Narrating his encounter with the leaders of the coalition, Kachikwu said that he was approached by the collation for a meeting last year and a friend of him, early this year persuaded him to meet them.

He said that at the meeting with the coalition the leaders told him about the need for a coalition to defeat President Bola Tinubu in 2027 general election.

Kachikwu said the question he asked them was if the coalition would produce southern candidate since Muhammadu Buhari from the north just finish his eight years tenure.

“The immediate response was, we are taking our power back.

“Now, imagine my situation as someone who was the presidential flag bearer of a party that came fifth in the last elections.

“You are saying to me that I cannot aspire to the office, that I should foreclose my ambition because I happen to be from the southern part of Nigeria,’’ he said.

Kachikwu said that for him “that ended every talk about coalition, because it was very clear that the coalition was engineered to produce Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer.’’

He challenged the coalition to state categorically that its 2027 ticket would be zoned to complete the second term of the zone.

“Make that statement a categorical statement and we’ll admit you through the front door and say that there is a conversation to be had,’’ he said.

On the adoption of the ADC as the platform for the coalition for 2027 general election, Kachikwu said that he was not against them joining the party, but ADC cannot be hijacked through the back door.

He said that the former national Chairman of ADC, Raph Nwosu, has no power to handover the leadership of the party to former Senate President, Sen. David Mark, because his tenure had elapsed since April 2022.

He said that while members of the party were not against any Nigerian joining ADC, those interested in joining the party must follow due process.

“ADC, our logo is a handshake. A handshake signifies peace, signifies friendliness. We are welcoming to everybody. We are not excluding people coming to the party.

“We need people coming to the party. Our issue is that we say these people came in through the back door. If you want to come into our party, come in through the front door,’’ he said.

He wondered how a man could be announced as the interim chairman of the party and his membership card was given to him right at that very place.

“If you want to come into our party, come in through the front door,’’ he said.

Kachikwu urged INEC to do the right thing and the media to report the development in the party accurately.

He pledged members of the party that he would fight their right, saying our party is worth fighting for

“We won’t give up our party to these people, no matter how rich they are, no matter how powerful they are, no matter how deep their politics.

“No matter the amount of threats made against me, my family or to you, the party members, no matter the amount of blackmail. Blackmail me all day long, I will fight for the party,’’ he pledged.

Kachikwu also denied the insinuation that he had been bought over to fight the coalition saying

“There’s not one politician in Nigeria who has what it takes to sponsor me. Not one. But I can tell you this.

“I have produced governors, I have produced ministers, I have produced local government chairmen. But there’s not one of them that has what it takes to sponsor me. They can’t afford to buy my conscience.

“When I speak on issues concerning Nigeria, it’s about what pertains to the common man,’’ he said.