DON’T DECLARE EMERGENCY RULE IN TROUBLED STATES, ACN, CPC WARN

Opposition parties – Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – warned yesterday the Federal Government against the declaration of a state of emergency in the violence-ridden states of Borno, Yobe and Nasarawa.

The parties made their position known in statements by their spokesmen – Alhaji Lai Mohammed (ACN) and Mr. Rotimi Fasakin (CPC).

“If the imposition of emergency rule on the most affected states is the only viable option left for President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the crisis, then he should step down,” Mohammed said.

CPC, FG DIFFER OVER ORITSEJIAFOR’S PRIVATE JET

The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has alleged that the bombardier jet being used by Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, was purchased by the Presidency.

CPC’s national publicity secretary, Engr Rotimi Fashakin, in a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday said the offer was a reward for the pastor’s calling for the arrest of CPC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari after the post-election violence of 2011.

In press release which was titled ‘Jonathan Regime and the Politicisation of Nigeria’s Security,’ Fashakin accused the Presidency of buying the jet which was later said to have been bought by members Oritsejafor’s congregation.

MERGER: CPC, ACN SEAL DEAL ON LOGO, FLAG

The fresh merger arrangement between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) appears to be taking shape.

This is because we have it on good authority that the two major opposition political parties have reached a good measure of understanding as regards common name, logo and flag that will now be the identity (face) of the newly merged party.

But Sunday Independent was also told that the architects of the merger plan for the two parties are keeping the logo and the flag close to their chest for now in what one of them said “until the appropriate time.”

Regardless, one of the opposition political parties– the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP)–may lose out in its bid to be part of the merger effort except the leaders approach the project with the seriousness that it deserves.

This is because we were told that the leaders of the ANPP are making impossible demands.