Some prominent politicians, including 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, on Tuesday launched a new political group, The National Movement (TNM).
They urged 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.
Kwankwaso, who is the Convener of the group, said Nigerians have been asking for a way out of the current socio-economic and political predicament.
He said: “For too long, Nigerians have been waiting for this moment. For too long, Nigerians have been asking for a way out of our current severe economic and political predicament. For too long, friends of Nigeria at home and abroad have been looking forward to the day Nigeria shall rise again.
“TNM wishes to call upon all countries of the world, especially our neighboring countries in the sub-region, to partner with Nigeria to defeat the raging terrorism and banditry. We hereby call upon all countries that love Nigeria and its people to join us in saving our democracy and rescuing Nigeria from our present quagmire.
Galadima said the country is in shambles, adding that every facet of its national life is in ruins. Dalung apologised to Nigerians for helping in enthroning the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also, Kwankwaso yesterday spoke on the zoning arrangement in the ruling APC and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He was guest on a Channels Television evening programme, “Politics Today”.
The ex-governor said APC governors were right for endorsing the zoning of the presidential slot to the South.
At a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday, the APC governors had said they agreed with the swapping the offices between North and South. By the arrangement, all offices that were occupied by northerners in the last eight years will go to the South, and vice versa.
Kwankwaso said: “The APC has no choice than to zone the presidential slot of the party to the South, as the present occupier is a northerner. It will be unjust for the party to do otherwise.
“I was with the party when it was formed and we agreed then that there should be zoning. So, for me, I am happy that the party has come with this zoning arrangement.”
But he said the PDP could not do likewise because in its 16 years of its reign, the northerners only had two years.
