: And To Foster Ideological And Generational Change In Nigeria Politics
Newly created third force movement, known as “The National Movement,” (TNM), which made its’ debut in the Nigeria political landscape recently has continued to produce ripples in the Nigerian political water as it has persistently been making waves ever since its announcement as a new political party set up to right the wrongs of the two major parties in Nigeria, the All Progressive Congress, APC; which is the ruling party, and the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, the major opposition.
TNM since inception has consistently drummed it in the minds of Nigerians that they had done their homework well and are prepared to wrest the baton of leadership from the current political gladiators who have exhausted themselves and have offered the people nothing but poverty, misery, insecurity and complete hopelessness.
According to the conveners of TNM, who see themselves as the game changers, they have clearly mapped out their plans on how to take over power come 2023 and are waiting to harvest massive defectors from the ruling APC and PDP after the conduct of their presidential, governorship and other primaries.
The new party also plan to soon begin a massive campaign targeted at Nigerian youths and working professionals on the need to join the movement to rescue the country from the brinks in 2023.
Launched on Tuesday, the TNM , a political group was formed by some prominent politicians, who perceive themselves as men on the rescue mission; they include former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso; former National Secretary of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buba Galadima; former Chairman of Northern Elders’ Council, Tanko Yakasai, and former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung.
Others are former Governors Murtala Nyako, Lucky Igbinedion and Achike Udenwa; Professor Pat Utomi, former Executive Secretary of TetFund, Dr. Bappa Bichi, Buba Galadima, Tahir Saad, Solomon Dalung, Rufai Hanga, Senator Grace Bent, and Professor Attahiru Jega, a former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Other members of the movement are Air Vice Marshall Ifeanaju, Solomon Edoja, Nweze Onu, Folasade Aliyu, Rufai Alkali, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Umale Shittu, Ibrahim Ringim, Ali Gwaska, Paul Okala, Idris Wada, Abdulrahman Abubakar, among several others.
While urging world powers to rescue Nigeria from the brinks, the politicians bemoaned the state of the nation, which they blamed on inept leadership, saying Nigerians need to lend their voices to the struggle to save the country’s democracy.
In an interview with the Independent, a prominent senator from the North who wanted to remain anonymous, when asked if the group has the required number and strength to dislodge the ruling APC out of power, he said, “The timing of this movement is very strategic.
We have observed that the PDP and APC are in disarray and we know there will be an implosion soon especially in the ruling party.
You can see that they keep shifting their convention for fear of violence. “We are waiting for them to conduct their primaries.
We have some like minds in these parties who are unhappy with what is going on and will soon join us. They are just waiting for the parties to conduct their primaries which will be manipulated as usual. After these, many of them will leave the parties and join us.
“Aside that, we will also mobilise Nigerian youths who are fed up with this old order to join our fold. Many of them are desperate to move out of the country because of poor leadership. We will tell them to wait behind and join hands with us to rescue the country.
After all, if we all flee, who will save the country for us?” he asked. In a related development, associates of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Saturday in Lagos organise a body tagged ‘Citizens Unite’ aimed at drumming support for his presidential bid.
According to the TNM, who referred to themselves as “Citizens Unite,” claim that they are a unified body of young and old progressive and visionary citizens of this great country Nigeria in solidarity with the vice president, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, for a better Nigeria.
“With a vision to offer room for diverse growth opportunities while providing leadership and professional positioning to develop our country, states, and local communities, our mission is to inspire, empower, and engage relevant stakeholders to champion a generational and ideological shift in Nigeria’s political