Forces behind Obasanjo’s ‘third force’

By Odunewu Segun

Since the ‘letter bomb’ written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to Buhari became public, there has been underground readjustment and alignment. While some have remained in the shadows, others have openly come out to support the new coalition being pushed by Obasanjo.

In the letter where he criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo had recommended a coalition. “We need a Coalition for Nigeria that will salvage and redeem our country. You can count me with such a movement… Coalition for Nigeria must have its headquarters in Abuja,” he had written.

At the launch of the Coalition being coordinated by Olagunsoye Oyinlola at the Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja, those in the shadows are beginning to emerge.

There are reports that at least 10 governors, serving senators and members of the House of Representatives, among other top politicians, are members of the coalition.

While some of them are still underground, some prominent politicians attended the launch. Below is a brief profile of some of those who attended.

BUBA GALADIMA

Galadima was the National Secretary of the then Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) founded by President Muhammadu Buhari. The president contested the 2011 election under the platform of the party.

But seven years down the line, the former chairman of the board of trustees (BoT) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) asked Buhari to step down and allow others contest.

AKIN OSUNTOKUN

A former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Osuntokun was a political adviser to Obasanjo when he was in power.

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One of the key proponents of restructuring, he once said the nation is heading for “terminal illness” without restructuring. He has at various times lambasted Buhari over his “poor’ performance and has also said he does not deserve a second term in office.

AHMADU ALI

A retired colonel, Ali was a chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). He is an ally of Obasanjo. The Kogi state indigene is the first Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He was Director-General of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign organisation in 2015.

SEGUN RUNSEWE

Runsewe was the former chairman of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC). Obasanjo appointed him Director-General of NTDC in 2000. He was relieved of his position in 2013 but Buhari reappointed him last year.

Donald Duke, one-time governor of Cross River; Abubakar Danburam, former lawmaker from Kano have also came out to identify with the new emerging coalition that wants to wrestle power from the two dominant parties, All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).