Date Published: 12/16/09

Mega Summit-National Democratic Movement story

The Mega Summit Movement (MSM) and the National Democratic Movement (NDM) yesterday in Abuja have formed a joint committee for harmonisation, and possible merger, for the programmes of the two groups.

The groups also jointly condemned the federal government for the poor handling of the former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji attahiru Bafarawa.

Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), who address journalist at the middle of the marathon meeting said that the possible merger of the two groups will definitely strengthen opposition ahead of the 2011 general elections.

“As you all know, for the past few months, there has been meeting by groups looking for a way to combat the current negative trends in our search for genuine democracy in the country, now all the groups have decided to come together to offer a lone voice, a single voice speak together as to the programme for the purpose of salvaging this country from continuous drift to anarchy and dictatorship.

Consequent upon this, the Mega Summit Movement (MSM) and the National Democratic Movement (NDM) have formed a joint committee for harmonisation for the programmes of the two bodies so that they can speak with one voice and those meeting here today are members of the committee and our decisions would be taken over to the joint meeting of the two groups after which a statement would be issued on the programmes for the salvage of democracy from the hands of those who are destroying it,” Ahamba said.

While insisting that Bafarawa’s arrest is an indication and a clear message that government would not tolerate opposition and that is a clear intention to undermine opposition’s effort at fostering genuine democracy this effort; he however said that the groups do not support any offence that may have been committed by anybody, but shall at all times stand against breach of due process in pursuit of justice or trial of anyone.

He said, “His Excellency, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa was arrested even though he has been in this country, so as to alert other people who might want to join us as what might befall them; he was detained for five days without anybody speaking with him or telling him what was amiss. We think this is not a proper way to pursue any effort to flush out corruption, real or imagine in this country. The law remains that everybody is innocent until found guilty and we insist that Bafarawa should be handled with due process no matter what happens eventually; and this act of intimidation must stop because it will not stop anything, we refused to be intimidated, because what it involves is the interest of this country, the interest of our children and the interest of social life among others.”