Former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Osun state and Donald Duke of Cross-River state were among many notable politicians and youth leaders from across Nigeria who came together Wednesday in Abuja to launch a new movement, Coalition For Nigeria Movement (CNM).
The new movement which was formed to enable “a transition from where we are to where we ought to be” however said “it isn’t a political party yet.”
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had, in his last week’s open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, advocated for the formation of a Coalition which will serve as the third force in the country. The former president said the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition PDP had failed Nigerians.
But speaking at the launch of CNM in Abuja Wednesday, former governor Oyinlola said the “movement was not launched to legitimise OBJ’s legacies.”
Prince Oyinlola said though the messages raised in the Obasanjo letter were true and should be looked into, the launch of the movement was just a coincidence.
He said himself and other notable Nigerians felt “the time has come that the youths should take the lead while the elders only provide guidance.”
He said they believed that the leadership of Nigeria should be given only to those who really have the interest of the country at hearts.
Oyinlola, who is a board member of the ruling APC, said the time is now for youthful politicians and other youth leaders from across the country to take their destinies in their own hands and save Nigeria from collapse.
He said: “We are forming the movement to give the youths the chance to savage the country. We, the elders will only provide guidance. We will be doing these together to savage Nigeria from total collapse.
“This is not a political party, at least for now. If it must turn into a political party, it must be the collective decision of all of us in the movement. Let me also add that we are not formed to legitimise OBJ legacies.”
Former governor Donald Duke in his remarks said sincere politicians were few in the country.
“What we have are those who just want to get to power, and they need just any political party”, he said.
He called on the youths to join the movement and rescue the country.
He reiterated that the youths would be the leaders of the movement, not any old politician.
The son of a former Nigerian Prime Minister, Abduljalil Tafawa Balewa said youths are now waking up from their slumbers with the formation of the movement.
Mr Tafawa Balewa, who is the co-chairman of the movement for North, added that new dawn had been born in the country.