"...I must now search to really ascertain where indeed my true political friends exist. I need to be, at this time of my life where I have friends who share a common vision with me and where my freedom, respect, honour and dignity would be guaranteed. Notwithstanding my enormous contributions over the past 12 years or so to building the alternative platform, after very deep thought and the widest consultations I have made the decision to withdraw my membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) from today, Wednesday 27th August 2014."
*Tom Ikimi
Following
my widely publicized statement made in the aftermath of the 13th June 2014 All
Progressives Congress APC National Convention I took time off to reflect on the
state of the party, the emerging re-configuration of the general political
Structure in the country, and the visionary effects on the state of our Nation.
I have
spent almost 13 of the past 15 years faithfully dug in, in the trenches of the
evolving democratic dispensations in our country, steadfastly pursuing my
conviction that for true democracy to take firm root in Nigeria we should fall
in line with the model practiced in successful democracies in the world, of a
party in office and a scrutinizing alternative party holding the Government to account.
We all have watched with admiration how in those other countries through a
process of hitch-free General Elections, the baton of leadership changes hands
from time to time from one Party to the other to provide alternative policies
for their people. Therefore I have never considered my location outside the
ruling party, as being in an “opposition”, rather as supporting an alternative
platform. All that was necessary for me was the association with individuals
committed to build and uphold that platform. In this regard, my experiences
during the era of the NRC and SDP in 1990 -1993 are invaluable reference data
bank in my quest to work to reincarnate the reality of two dominant political
platforms in our country.
