The Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, has dismissed the newly formed coalition of political parties and has described those behind it as disgruntled persons who are unhappy because they are not in government.
“Let’s be realistic. Let’s tell ourselves the truth. The time for deceiving Nigerians is over.
“Who was not in the government in the last regime? Who is not in government? We know the track record of everyone,” Radda said on a national tv program .
“We know what they have done when they were in government, and they are now crying and shouting because they are outside of the government.”
The coalition, which was newly unveiled, had adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after months of talks. It appointed a former Senate President, David Mark, as interim national chairman; a former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as secretary, and Bolaji Abdullahi as spokesman.
In his acceptance speech, Mark accused the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government of turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
The unveiling of the platform has since triggered a barrage of reactions from opposition politicians, with Radda the latest high-profile personality to question the coalition’s sincerity.
Governor Radda said the group should come out with its agenda for the country and sell itself to Nigerians.
“Let’s be realistic,” the governor said. “If we are coming with something new to Nigerians, every Nigerian is going to embrace it.
He said, “Who are these people in this coalition? Why were they not in another coalition before? What are they going to come and do differently from what is happening in the country now? Can they promise Nigerians what they are going to bring about?
“Let them come out and tell Nigerians, those who want to contest for president in this election. Let them come and tell Nigerians, are they going to bring the subsidy back?
“And if they are going to bring subsidy back, let them tell Nigerians how they are going to run the government, and with what resources are they going to run the government, and with what resources are they going to pay to bring about the subsidy.”
The coalition includes some heavyweight politicians, such as a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and a former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.
Others are a former Rivers governor, Rotimi Amaechi; Senator Dino Melaye; ex-minister, Solomon Dalong; publisher, Dele Momodu; ex-Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam; Senator Ireti Kingibe; and a former Imo governor, Emeka Ihedioha..