FALAE, SULEIMAN RALLY SUPPORT FOR OPPOSITION

Politicians in the progressive fold including  former leader of National  Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Commodore Dan Suleiman, former Secretary of the  Government of the Federation Chief Olu Falae, leader of South-east Forum,  Ezekeil Izuogu, yesterday urged  all progressives in the country to identify with one strong party that will champion their cause.

At a  meeting summoned on the auspices of Progressive Movement of Nigeria, the politician said there was the need for all the progressives to close ranks if they intend to make any reasonable impact in the 2015 general election.

Speaking during the meeting, the convener of the group, Izuogu, who was a former PDP governorship aspirant in Imo State, said  all attempts by some  progressive elements in the country to win power including the late MKO Abiola and Falae were frustrated by the combined forces of corrupt and reactionary elements.

He lamented that their action has denied the nation the opportunity to be transformed.
“One day the progressive in this country will take power. We are not going to give up the struggle, just like the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, fought till power was restored to the people. Our efforts is for all progressive to stay together and fight the reactionary government of the PDP. We believe that the best thing that can happen to Nigeria is for all progressives to stay together.”

Also speaking at the forum, Falae said change was inevitable and until  Nigeria achieves that change, things will continue to get worse.
“When you want change, you are stepping on very powerful toes and usually there is always a price to pay for it. Therefore, it is dangerous to be a  progressive.”

Falae who once contested for presidency of the country cautioned the proponents of the on going merger arrangement under the umbrella of the All Progressives  Congress (APC) to avoid  the pitfalls that truncated the progressives alliance  in 2011 particularly the infiltration of the PDP agents in the exercise.

Falae said though he has sympathy for the merger,  any political group that  lacks a clear cut ideology will likely achieve no success in a merger.
He therefore called on the leaders of  the APC to make public their agenda.

“A progressive is someone who for reasons either for his background or ideology feels concern about the welfare of the poor, someone who believes in change. He knows that every change may not be an improvement but every  improvement starts with a change.

“The progressive are those who said that the military must go under the military regime. When you want change, you are stepping on dangerous toes as   people like MKO and some of us found out. Those who said Abacha must go were  progressives but those who supported the administration were not progressives. PDP is an opportunist gang of power. Their ideology is looting.”

They have
also jailed their own leaders. I can never, never join what is not a party because PDP is not one.”

Air Commodore  Suleiman said he had progressive ideas while in the military “so it was not surprising that when I join politics, I found myself in the  same camp. Today, we are in at crossroads and we are not united and that is why  the country is having problem today.

“Today, there is no doubt that the best political system is a little bit to the left and a little bit to the right. There is no extremists again anywhere in the world. We have two clear ideology what the progressives want is a common agenda, “ he said.

 

OLU FALAE

SOURCE : THISDAY