There is palpable tension in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the last controversial general election hosted his Labour Party counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi in Abuja on Monday 13 of May 2024.
Atiku who shared pictures of Obi’s visit on his official Facebook page wrote, “It was my honour and privilege to host Peter Obi today”.
The meeting of the two political buffalos is coming as rumours over the oppositions forming strong alliance ahead of 2027 poll keep banging loud. A source in APC told newsmen that the meeting between Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar shows that something very serious is cooking behind the scene and the ruling party must act fast before whatever the duo are plotting will materialize.
“The leadership of APC must buckle up. The meeting between Obi and Atiku is not ordinary. Something very serious is cooking behind the scene. Our party must act fast”, the source said.
Meanwhile, former political adviser to President Shehu Shagari and renowned political economist, Mr Pat Utomi, last week had said his plan to form a mega political party with like-minded people and political groups ahead of 2027 general elections is on course.
Mr Utomi said the redemption of the country could not be achieved by the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) or any of the opposition parties.
He said the present political parties had failed the people and had not added value to nation-building.
According to him, the planned mega party is to disrupt the current political order and deliver that impactful leadership that the country truly deserves.
“It is precisely the reason I arrived Nigeria yesterday to continue that work (formation of mega party)
“I believe that the political party system in Nigeria has failed completely. Political parties are not democratic and they are not serving the purpose.
“Political parties and politicians of these parties cannot save Nigeria now, it is clear.
“The nature and the structure of our politics is such that even good people, when they enter these existing political parties, will play to their interests,” Mr. Utomi, who is the founder, Centre for Values in Leadership, said.
According to the Big Tent coordinator, parochial culture has consumed civic culture in the country and this has affected the mindset of politicians.
He said a new political order must be birthed to get Nigeria out of the woods and that citizens and leaders must begin to do the right things to reposition the country. “Nigeria must be saved by its citizens and this is precisely what I am advancing.
“We are talking about value- driven citizenship with integrity, work ethics, respect for the dignity of people, regard for labour.
“We are created for others; we are not created for ourselves, we are created for the good of others. A tree does not take benefit from the shades it creates.
“We want Nigerians to develop that mindset. Right now, the mindset that Nigerians have is ,me, myself, and I.
“Self -love is so consuming and that is why Nigerian politicians don’t act in the interest of the people or the state. They act so narrowly in their self- interests. ”he said.
Utomi said in continuation of work to float the mega party, he would hold meetings in Lagos and Abuja before holding a news conference.
The political economist added he hoped to achieve much with the mega party talks before returning to the US.
Mr Utomi said groups that would come together to form the mega platform were two cohorts of politicians – the mea culpa and new value cohorts.
“The mea culpa cohort are politicians who have seen that what they did while in power, had not helped Nigeria are remorseful and are now willing to become part of the redemption initiative.
“There are also new Nigeria new value cohorts. This cohort will be working together, and they will include people from all these other political parties,” he said.
He said that some elder statesmen would also be brought into the fold.
Recall that Mr Utomi had in January 2024 said he had conversations with leaders of some opposition parties on plan to form a new mega political party that would take power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
He disclosed that he had held discussions with some of the presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections, including Atiku Abubakar of PDP, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Rabiu Kwankwaso of NNPP over the possibility of bringing them and other opposition politicians together to form a new party.