Senator Dino Melaye broke into a fresh political chant as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) officially was launched as the opposition coalition’s new political vehicle at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
Heavyweights of the emerging coalition in formation, Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola and others, gathered at the venue.
At the gathering, the Kogi State Senator and former Governorship Candidate, Melaye, energetically sang, “APC comot for road, ADC don com!” to the delight of parts.
Stepping down publicly at the occasion, Ralph Nwosu, ADC Chairman, said former Senate President David Mark (new National Chairman) and ex-Governor Rauf Aregbesola (new National Secretary), would be leading the coalition to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
According to Nwosu, the entire leadership of ADC across all states had officially stepped down to facilitate the transition of the party structure.
Nwosu said, “We all decided to resign so that Mark can paddle this canoe and get us to the Villa.”
He described Aregbesola, estranged ally of Tinubu, as a man of unparalleled service record.
Nwosu said: “Nigerians are yearning for change. They are yearning for the coalition. I congratulate you both and assure you that working with the NWC and NEC members you will meet, you have no problem.
“I will be talking as a floor member. My job will not end until we sing the national anthem in the Villa. That will be the real hope. Nigeria has been in ICU. Lives are being lost everyday. My appeal to the emerging political leaders is to take Nigeria from the ICU to global reckoning because we can!
“We can help Mark and Aregbesola by the way we conduct ourselves. Anybody who says anything against what we’ve done today is not ADC member. We shouldn’t be apologetic. We need to be ready for this battle. More will come, but the way we are we will surmount them.”
Others at the meeting were: Former APC National Chairman John Oyegun, former Governor of Sokoto State Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, former Minister of Youth and Sports Solomon Dalung, Senator Gabriel Suswam and Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party (LP).
Other dignitaries in attendance were: Former Chairman of PDP Uche Secondus, former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, renowned journalist Dele Momodu, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Retd) and former LP Vice Presidential Candidate Yusuf Datti-Ahmed.
Emeka Ihedioha, former Imo Governor and former Buhari SSA and NNDC Chairman, Ms Laurreta Onochie, were also there, with Victor Umeh, Senator representing Anambra Central, former Governors Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa).
