By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A new political movement which may eventually metamorphose to a political party has been floated in Abuja by ex-leaders of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
The name of the political movement floated on Tuesday by ex-state chairmen of the defunct CPC in 36 states, ahead of 2023 general election is New Nigeria Movement (NNM).
CPC was one of the three major political parties which merged with others to form the current All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2013 and which wrestled power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015 general election.
The new political associates believed that the ruling APC has derailed from its foundational plans, and therefore the need for realignment to save the country ahead of the next general elections is imperative.
Consequently, the group in its first meeting, elected former Kano State chairman of the defunct CPC, Alhaji Ahmed Haruna Dan Zogo, as its National Chairman to pilot the affairs of the movement which may soon transform into another political party.
In a communique released to newsmen after its inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, signed by Dan Zogo, NNM said that it was determined to give a new political direction to Nigeria.
The communique reads: “The inaugural meeting of the New Nigeria Movement (NNM), a socio-political group comprising of patriotic and credible Nigerians who are determined to give a new direction held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, on the 19th January, 2021.
“The pioneer members are drawn from the thirty six states of the federation and united by a burning desire to give Nigeria a new political direction that will guarantee peace, true unity, equity and mutual trust.
“We empathize with President Muhammadu Buhari on his sincere effort of salvaging Nigeria from the age long decay and also commending him for reminding the National Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by His Excellency, Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Yobe State on the need to keep our commitment to all members of the meger (e.g CPC, ACN, ANPP etc).
“The New Nigeria Movement (NNM) therefore resolved to team up with patriotic Nigerians and the President to move the country forward.
“Our movement is in total support of the clarion call by Nigerians for power shift to the South and generational power shift.
“The meeting unanimously elected a credible, human and patriotic progressive Nigerian, Alh. Ahmed Haruna Dan Zogo, the former Chairman of defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) of Kano State as National Chairman of the Movement.”