We’re comfortable with APC, says New PDP

The ground for a super coalition ahead of the
2015 general elections may have been
established, with yesterday's declaration of the
Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) that it feels "more
comfortable" in the company of the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
The faction said it shares with the APC a
common goal of rescuing Nigeria from the
precipice and putting it firmly on the path of
sustainable development.
Yesterday's declaration is coming on the heels
of the visit last week of the leadership of the
APC to four of the aggrieved G7 PDP
governors, who they urged to team up with the
opposition party to defeat the PDP.
The APC leadership team, which included Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, visited Sokoto State Governor Aliyu
Wamakko, Kano State Governor Rabiu
Kwakwanso, Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido
and Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako.
In all the places, they got messages of hope.
Today, they are billed for Port Harcourt to
visit Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi.
In a statement yesterday, the spokesman of the
New PDP, Chukwuemeka Eze, said:
"The presence of APC and New PDP leaders in
large numbers at the Sokoto State University's
inauguration was a positive development,
which raised hope for our fledgling
democracy.
"It is a good example of politics of tolerance
and cooperation, which we consider necessary
if the country is to experience peace and
tranquillity, without which there could be no
development."
The faction, however, stated that its romance
with the APC is without prejudice to the
ongoing negotiation between it and the
Bamanga Tukur- led PDP.
It nevertheless expressed the hope that wise
counsel would prevail in the protracted peace
talks between the Baraje and the Tukur
factions, with the latter meeting the conditions
stated by the former.
Relishing its relationship with the APC, the
Baraje faction continued: "Some have
interpreted this to mean that a political
marriage may be imminent between the New
PDP and APC.
"While nothing is impossible in politics, it is
necessary to state that we have not at this
point closed the door on the on-going
negotiations between us and President
Goodluck Jonathan, who is also the national
leader of our great party, PDP, the reformation
of which is our preoccupation for now.
"The increasing closeness between leaders of
the New Peoples Democratic Party (New PDP)
and those of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) has raised questions in the minds of
many Nigerians and fuelled speculations on the
possible merger of the two parties.
"Speculations along this line have heightened
since last Tuesday's inauguration of the Sokoto
State University, where both APC and New PDP
put up a strong presence, with our national
chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, leading
a high-powered team that included former
Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governors
Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Musa Kwankwaso
of Kano, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and Sule
Lamido of Jigawa; as well as our National
Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former
Osun State governor, to the event."
"The chemistry between the team and that of
APC, led by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was indeed
unmistakable. The APC leaders have since then
intensified the lobby for a marriage between
both parties, even visiting some of our
governors to directly invite them to join their
party.
"All these visits on our state governors simply
demonstrate our new status in the politics of
Nigeria as the new bride of Nigerian politics.
And we hope to play the role as expected of
us, as we hold the key to Aso Rock come 2015.
"We heartily congratulate the administration of
His Excellency, Governor Aliyu Wamakko, a
good Ambassador of our great party, the New
PDP, on this laudable achievement, and pray
that Sokoto State University does not only
experience a smooth take-off but also develop
into a model centre of academic excellence."
The meeting of APC leaders with Amaechi,
according to a government source in Port
Harcourt, will hold at the Government House
in the Rivers State capital.
The source said Amaechi will be joined by his
deputy, Tele Ikuru, commissioners and other
top government officials.
Members of the National Assembly from the
state, the 26 members of the House of
Assembly loyal to Amaechi, leaders of the PDP
and other allies of the Nigeria Governors'
Forum (NGF) chairman would also receive the
APC chieftains.
The meeting, according to the source, will hold
in the afternoon and a communique may be
released.
.The APC leaders are visiting Port Harcourt at a
time the Supervising Minister of Education,
Chief Nyesom Wike, who is also the grand
patron of the Grassroots Development
Initiative (GDI) is moving round the 23 local
government areas of Rivers State for GDI's
inauguration.