The Patriots, a body of elder statesmen and leaders of thought in the country, at the weekend, explained why it could not be part of the ongoing efforts by some opposition politicians that unveiled a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the All progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 presidency.

The organisation spoke against the backdrop of the unveiling of the coalition in Abuja last week by former vice president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Other prominent politicians who attended the conference included the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachair Lawal.

In an interaction with the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend, the Secretary General of The Patriots, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi said there was no relationship between The Patriots Organisation on formed by the opposition politicians.

He said the leaders of The Patriots were preoccupied with ?bringing about a new Nigeria that works for all as a pan-Nigerian organisation.

According to Olawale, The Patriots, under the leadership of a former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, had succeeded in getting the buy-in of other stakeholders on the advocacy for a constitution that would reflect the wishes and aspirations of the diverse people of Nigeria.

In October last year, The Patriots inaugurated Zonal Advocacy Committees across the six geo-political zones to collect the inputs of stakeholders towards the actualisation of what the group called a People?s Constitution for the country.

The national chairman of Patriots? Strategy and Advocacy Committee on constitutional reform of Nigeria, Professor Anthony Kila and the national secretary of the committee, Dr Bilikisu Magoro, had explained that the political reform advocacy was devolved to the zones, with members from each state and diverse groups in Nigeria.

Comrade Okunniyi referenced the setting up of the zonal committee while speaking to the Nigerian Tribune on the formation of the coalition by the opposition politicians ahead 2027, stressing that The Patriots remained focus on its strategic aim of bringing about a new Nigeria.

?The Advocacy and Mobilisation Committee of The Patriots have already enlisted the commitment of formidable voices in the six geo political zones of Nigeria to mobilise critical stakeholders and the general public to buy into the longstanding advocacy in Nigeria for a new democratic people?s Constitution for Nigeria towards resolving Nigeria?s national democratic and constitutional challenges

?To this end, Zonal Advocacy Committees have been constituted and inaugurated in the six geo-political zones since November last year and these have been holding strategy and consultative meetings and now rearing to launch nationwide outreaches in April this year

?However, the new coalition of opposition forces has no relationship with the Patriots as the Patriots as a body of eminent Nigerians, is a non-partisan, pan-Nigerian intervention group of eminent leaders of thought, statesmen and women, who are only committed to bringing about a new Nigeria that works for all via a popularly agreed Constitution by the diverse stakeholders and citizens of Nigeria. So the Patriots as a group will never entertain or embrace partisan politics.?

While inaugurating the People?s Constitution Strategy and Advocacy Committee of The Patriots in August, the Chairman of The Patriots, Chief Emeka Anyaoku (former secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations) stated that the Advocacy Team Co-Chaired by Senator Shehu Sanni would be reaching out to various sectors of the peoples and citizens of Nigeria for buy-in and support towards actualising a new democratic people?s Constitution for Nigeria.

It would be recalled that The Patriots had earlier visited President Bola Tinubu to make a firm case for a legitimate federal constitution that can make Nigeria work for all.

In the meantime, there are indications that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is yet to make a firm commitment to the coalition announced last week in Abuja by Atiku.

This indication emerged at the weekend following inquiries made by the Nigerian Tribune from the national publicity secretary of the party, Mr. Ladipo Johnson, on whether NNPP was a part of the coalition since the party was not represented at the unveiling of the coalition.

He said the party leaders were still holding consultations with other groups for the purpose of broadening the base of a platform capable of challenging the ruling APC in 2027, adding the question of being part of a coalition would come at a most auspicious time.

?The opposition platform is a very wide spectrum in this country. What I can assure you is that the NNPP members are also in talks with various groups and we choose to keep our interactions at this stage under wraps until positive decisions and timely decisions have been taken,? the NNPP spokesman said.

?Furthermore, looking at the opposition coalition announced by Atiku Abubakar, you would agree with me that people, groups or parties can join a coalition almost at any time.

?Some people or parties might decide that they are still in talks with some others. When the others come on board, you might decide that you want to join even a broader coalition or otherwise.

?So, I assure Nigerians that the NNPP is in consultations far and wide to ensure we contribute our bit to bringing about good governance in this country that will improve security; that we are working towards ensuring that the value of the Naira gets stronger, inflation is reduced and we give our youths and women the hope that the economy will improve and they will be able to make positive impacts on their entrepreneurship.

?This is what we believe and this is what we are working towards.? (Nigerian Tribune)

Update news