L-R: Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Kassim Shettima (Borno); and Host Governor Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); while briefing journalists on the outcome of the governors meeting in Lagos on Tuesday
Ten Governors from four political parties: the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP),All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), have thrown their weight behind the proposed merger of the opposition parties in the country.
The Governors who made the position known at a meeting in Lagos on Tuesday include : Kashim Shettima (Borno), Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rochas Okorocha(Imo); Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Tanko Almakura (Nassarawa);Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun).
Others include Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) represented by Senator Jejere Alkali and Abdulaseez Yari (Zamfara).
Reading the communiqué after a meeting on the merger, the Governor of Borno, Shettima said the ten Governors having reviewed the situation of the country, expressed concern at the worrisome state and resolved that the rescue of Nigeria is a task that must be done.
The Governor said his colleagues have endorsed the merger initiatives already begun by their various political parties and would continue to give support to the action.
“Nigeria is greater than all of us and we have a duty to make it work for our people and the future of our children yet unborn”, he stated.
Also speaking, Governor Fayemi said the merger is aimed at rescuing the country from bad governance even as the governors have resolved to work in patriotism and serve the people of Nigeria.
Fayemi added that the representation from the different political parties and geo-political zones is a proof that the merger plan is aimed at nothing but rescuing the future of the country and the citizens.
In his remarks, the Imo State Governor, Okorocha debunked allegations that his party –APGA- was not involved in the merger process; saying that he and his party are very much committed to the progress and development of Nigeria.
Senator Jejere (who stood in for Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State) also asserted that the merger will end the reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) come 2015 and put the country in the right perspective. He stressed that the PDP had not served the country and its people properly since 1999 when it came to power.
He assured that the opposition parties have all that is required to serve the people and put the country on the right footing.
Governor Fashola who also spoke at the event disclosed that other State Governors would soon join the merger bid even as he said that some were unavoidably absent from the meeting.
Last modified: February 6, 2013
