How CPC stalled talks, by Akande

LONG before the alliance talks between the Action Congress of Nigeria (AC N) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) collapsed, there had been signs that they would fail.

Early this year, ACN chairman Bisi Akande explained how the alliance moves were stalled by, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the former military Head of State suddenly abandoned the ACN in 2006 after being in robust discussion with the party in the preceding year, to contest on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

Akande recalled that the ACN resumed discussions with the General, following his visit to his Ogudu, Lagos suburb home, adding that the talks on that day focused on the current elections.

The party leader explained that the ACN leadership set up a three-man committee, comprising Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, now Osun State governor, his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr Kayode Fayemi and former Ekiti State Governor Niyi Adebayo, to iron out areas of disagreement with Buhari.

“The committee submitted its report on October 25, only to later discover to their amazement that the Buhari Team had entered into an agreement with the International Centre for Reconstruction and Development (ICRD), a.k.a Save Nigeria Group, and had resolved that the CPC would produce the presidential candidate while the SNG would produce the running-mate in an agreement that was witnessed and signed by Dr Almajiri Geidam and Aminu Bello Masari for CPC and Dr Gbolahan. Bakare and Yinka Odumakin for SNG,” he added.

In a December 14, 2010 letter addressed to the CPC National Chairman, a copy of which was sent to the former military leader, Akande drew the curtains on the “ACN/CPC collaboration talks”.

He complained about the snail-like approach of the CPC leadership to the talks, saying that time was running out.

Akande wrote: “You will recall the visit of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to my house in Lagos sometime in September this year (2010). This necessitated the need for the two parties to come together under a common platform for the purpose of 2011 general elections.

“The most recent of these effforts was the ‘ACN Otunba Niyi Adebayo-led team and ‘CPC Hon. Aminu Masari-led team, which had its first meeting in Abuja on October 5, 2010.

“Since then, not much has happened. To be sure, for the last two months now, we have not heard from you. Recently, we have read so much on this important issue on the pages of newspapers only. This is, to say the least, intriguing, particularly now that Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has declared his presidential bid under the CPC.

“Considering that there is hardly anytime left, given the INEC timetable and statutory requirements for any form of fusion of parties, Nigerians cannot continue to wait forever. Therefore, if by December 31, 2010, we do not hear further from you, it will be safe for us to conclude that you are no longer interested in pursuing these talks to logical conclusion.”