Dumebi Kachikwu, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has taken a swipe at former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his political coalition, accusing them of aligning with a discredited faction of the party.
Reacting to the coalition’s announcement that it had taken over the national leadership of ADC, Kachikwu mocked the group’s move as ill-informed and politically tone-deaf.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, Kachikwu declared.
“Dear ADC family and fellow Nigerians. It is with the greatest amusement that I watched the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar led group announce their takeover of the national leadership of the African Democratic Congress. As is expected I have been inundated with a lot of calls and messages seeking my reaction to the unfolding dramedy.”
He questioned the rationale behind the alliance with Ralph Nwosu, a man he claims no longer holds legitimate claim to the party’s leadership.
“The Atiku led group are in some form of alliance with the former leadership of the party led by Ralph Nwosu. The tenure of the Nwosu led executive lapsed on August 21, 2022, and his continued parade of himself as the chairman of the party was the subject of various litigations in different courts across the country.”
Lashing out at the coalition, Kachikwu raised rhetorical questions.
“Can you build something on nothing? Can you shave a man’s hair in his absence? Can you enter a man’s house through the back door and declare yourself the landlord?”
He ridiculed the coalition as a group of political relics trying to revive a failed legacy
“These yesterday’s men who represent a bad chapter in Nigeria’s past have bought a bad market from a man who represents a bad chapter in ADC’s past.”
“Nigerians have watched in amazement as this group of mostly geriatrics shopped around for a party to prosecute their ‘chopping must continue’ ambition.”
Kachikwu argued that the same set of people who contributed to Nigeria’s current woes cannot be trusted with its redemption.
“They have told us that they are fighting for the rights of ordinary Nigerians and that they are on a rescue mission but what is confusing to the Nigerians they want to rescue is that these men made up of a former vice president, former governors, ministers and political office holders are the same people who have presided over the affairs of this nation for the past four decades.”
“We have nothing to show for their decades of leadership other than being seen as a nation divided by tribe and religion and thriving in mediocrity. We are a nation lacking in the basics whose majority are poor but here we are watching those who set our nation on fire saying they are the fire brigade.”
He described the coalition leaders as “greedy and selfish old men” who think political power is their birthright.
“Nigerians are tired of your generation and reject everything you have to offer which is nothing. Nigerians yearn for new names, new faces, fresh ideas and progressive ideals.”
“We want a nation whose laws and opportunities are equal to all men… Nigerians have never asked for much other than a leadership that truly cares. You have failed us and stand rejected by us.”
In closing, Kachikwu cautioned the coalition to follow due process if they want to engage with the ADC.
“If you seek to be a part of the ADC, do the proper thing and come through the front door. We are a party of decent and well-behaved people. Our brand of opposition is one that not only opposes but proposes, something that your group is not conversant with.”
“I strongly suspect that you will be shopping for another party very soon and as you do that, we the members of the African Democratic Congress wish you Bon Voyage.”
