Tongues have been wagging since President Muhammadu Buhari declared his intention to seek re-election in 2019, on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has cashed on it to make reckless and unguarded comments about the person of the President. Like in previous elections, they are boasting around that they will win the upcoming general elections in 2019 and go ahead to put a PDP government in place at Aso Rock.

Nigerians are aware that former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been making some statements suggestive of his planning to present a candidate for the presidential election next year. He has been vociferous in condemning the APC-led federal government and Nigerians are wondering who really is Obasanjo to condemn a sitting President when he came up with an agenda to have third term. He made every effort to upturn the constitution of the country to remain perpetually in power and bring all Nigerians under his jackboot.

Having failed in that bid, he masterminded and orchestrated the foisting of a sick man, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua on the nation. Even though it was obvious the man had serious health issues, Obasanjo imposed him on Nigerians through all crooked means. So today he is leading some political groups to wrest power from the APC.

Two days after he asked President Muhammadu Buhari to forget a second term, thirty registered political parties have resolved to field and support one presidential candidate within the coalition for the 2019 general elections.

The parties, under the aegis of ‎coalition for a New Nigeria (CNN), have Alhaji Abdulkadir Salam of the Labour Party (LP) as chairman, Barrister Godson Okoye of the United Democratic Party (UDP) as secretary and Dr. Yunusa Tanko of the National Conscience Party (NCP) as spokesman.

This is coming barely two days after a former President,Olusegun Obasanjo castigated President Muhammmadu Buhari. Dr. Tanko, a former National Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), said the 30 parties were consulting widely to seize power from APC in 2019. ‎

They are not alone in the quest for power. The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and 18 other political parties ‎are said to be discussing a merger deal to form a ‘third force’.

According to APDA, it had commenced mapping out strategies to go into the elections independently with full force in order to seize power at the federal and state levels.

The party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Shittu, also announced that a three-man committee had been set up to work out modalities for winning ‎this year’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

It is understood that‎the third force agenda is to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government, eliminate the PDP from the polity and enthrone their men in the political power of the country.
I am just wondering what magic wand these forces want to use or adopt to seize power from the party in power.When I hear third force, and those behind the forces, they are about three now. The one led by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, another led by Civil Society Organisations and some paper-weight political parties and the one led by Shittu.

I do not know how prepared they are, but from all indications they are all jokers. The whole country can easily recall how the APC formed a formidable alliance that dislodged the PDP. We were clear headed from day one what we wanted and Nigerians were with us. We moved from state to state and local government to local government mobilizing and conscientizing people. PDP doubted our moves all the way. But, like the hawk we were very focused with the APC project.

Today, it is not so with those who want to seize power from us and we wonder; is it the PDP? Third Force 1, Third Force 2 or Third Force 3? I need an answer. Whatever the forces and colour and shades of persons behind such moves, they remain balkanized and un-agreeing bunch of people who are largely failures in their bids.
They are certainly not organized groups and one wonders, who will they produce that can stand Buhari? Is it Atiku Abubakar, Obasanjo’s deputy? Or who? Few months to election Nigerians do not know those who hide in dark alleys to seek to govern them.

One thing is sure; these guys are a bunch of confused people who have nothing to offer. Otherwise what does it take to organize people, if your agenda is clear and devoid of sectional, selfish or parochial interests.
The APC remains the party to beat come 2019. In fact, the APC is unbeatable. Nobody should contemplate it and I am not mincing words. All those gathering in different groups and camps under any guise are going no where with such agendas.

Let’s face it. Who among those talking about third force have integrity? Nigerians would definitely not vote for someone they do not know. They will not want unserious, mindless people who have at various times and circumstances ruined this country show up in any guise in the politics of this country as the Nigerian voters would shun them and vote for the APC en masse.

Nigerians would certainly regret if they allow the PDP to manipulate their way into government again. When therefore, the PDP is promising Nigerians what it couldn’t do for sixteen horrendous years they were in government in the country, the electorates should know that the party is desperate to return them to Egypt and our people must be united in telling the PDP with their votes that affliction will not visit them a second time. They should all file out and punish PDP again with their votes as they did in 2015 and consign the never-do -well party to the waste bin of history.

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• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Edo State.