Ex-Presidential Candidate Criticises Obi,Atiku Merger, Calling It A Wasted Effort

Aformer presidential aspirant from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), George Okoye, has expressed doubt about the proposed merger of opposition parties against President Bola Tinubu.

Okoye, who was a prominent House of Assembly member in Anambra under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2003, argued that Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is performing better than people’s expectations.

Having been out of politics for many years, Okoye urged the PDP leadership to address their internal leadership crisis instead of letting the party falter due to personal ambitions.

He also dismissed the planned merger between former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi as a futile effort against Tinubu.

He identified the PDP as the cornerstone of democratic practice in Nigeria, emphasizing that it must not be allowed to disintegrate due to the excessive ambitions of some stakeholders.

He urged the party leadership to focus on restructuring the party for the betterment of Nigeria rather than joining the so-called New Mega Party.

Okoye said: “The leadership of the party is complacent; they are just rigmarole, looking for direction.

“A mega Party cannot work in Nigeria today, the only thing the PDP needs now is to resolve its leadership challenges.

“If the government does the right thing commend it and criticize it when it does the wrong thing.

“We have a president today in Nigeria and I don’t think Bola Ahmed Tinubu is bad.

“I am impressed by his performance so far, but PDP can provide a better alternative.

“The problem with PDP is credible leadership and once there is credible leadership every other thing will fall in place.

“PDP must democratize the process of who becomes its leaders. Why can’t the leadership emerge through a normal process that is accepted by all? The PDP should work on its internal democracy and come out with a credible leadership.”