There were speculations that President Jonathan had contacted some ACN chiefs to form a government with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party. However, the ACN said it had not been contacted and would not accept such overtures.
The National Publicity Secretary of the ACN, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the party would not be part of the government of national unity Jonathan was putting together.
“How can the ACN get any ministerial slot when the party leadership has said, categorically, that it is not interested in the coalition government being planned by the President? On what basis will the cabinet slots be given to the ACN,” he asked.
Mohammed said the party would not change its position on the matter because participation in a government of national unity could not be by force or coercion.
“We are the leading opposition party and a government-in-waiting. Our stand is based on our aim of fostering a strong democratic system, which cannot be achieved in a one-party state that our participation in a unity government will help to achieve.
‘’Also, since light and darkness cannot co-habit, ACN cannot work with the PDP under any circumstance. We will, therefore, appreciate it if those who are day-dreaming about ACN’s involvement in a PDP-led Federal Government will get a life,” he said.
Mohammed said the ACN could not stop anybody from making contacts with its members, but its genuine members would not yield to such overtures.
“We have made it very clear; any member of our party that wants to accept appointments from Jonathan must first resign as a member of our party. We cannot stop anybody from taking appointments. But he cannot do so as a member of our party. The moment he does so, he ceases to be a member of our party,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Action Congress of Nigeria in Ekiti State has described its relationship with the Labour Party-led government of Ondo State as “very excellent and cordial”.
In a statement on Sunday by the Chairman, Ekiti ACN Bureau of Public Communications, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, refuted reports that the ACN planned to take over Ondo State from the LP.
The ACN in Ekiti said the state party chairman, Chief Olajide Awe, was quoted out of context by the journalists who reported the story.
The statement said the choice of who rules a state or any geopolitical entity rested with the electorate through the ballot box.
It also noted that the two states and governments were not at war and that they were collaborating with other states in the South-West to develop the region through good governance.
The ACN said, “We also wish to state clearly that we enjoy a cordial relationship with our sister state, Ondo, hence, the alleged plan to take over Ondo State from the Labour party is not true.”
By Olamilekan Lartey Courtesy Of: Punch
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