CLOSE-UP: Buhari’s CPC ally, ex-PDP chairman — top politicians who ‘launched’ Coalition for Nigeria Movement

Top political figures stormed the Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Wednesday morning for the launch of the Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM).

The launch took place one week after former President Olusegun Obasanjo said neither the ruling All Progressives Congress nor the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he served his two terms as president, could “rescue” the country.

In a letter where he criticised President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo had recommended a coalition.

“We need a Coalition for Nigeria, CN. Coalition to salvage and redeem our country. You can count me with such a movement… Coalition for Nigeria must have its headquarters in Abuja,” he had written.

There are reports that at least 10 governors, serving senators and members of the house of representatives, among other top politicians, are members of the coalition.

While some of them are still underground, some prominent politicians attended the launch. Below is a brief profile of some of those who attended.

BUBA GALADIMA

Galadima was the national secretary of the then Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) founded by President Muhammadu Buhari. The president contested the 2011 election under the platform of the party.

When the 2011 election result was announced, Galadima said the CPC would not accept it because the election was allegedly rigged. He had asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to carry out an audit.

But seven years down the line, the of the board of trustees (BoT) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) asked Buhari to step down and allow others contest.

He spoke at a programme on African Independent Televison.

An engineer by training, Galadinma who graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, hails from Yobe state.

AKIN OSUNTOKUN

A former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Osuntokun was a political adviser to  Obasanjo when he was in power.

One of the key proponents of restructuring, he once said the nation is heading for “terminal illness” without restructuring.

He has at various times lambasted Buhari over his “poor’ performance and has also said he does not deserve a second term in office.

He once proposed for a “third Force” which he said will check the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  at the polls.

AHMADU ALI

A retired colonel, Ali was a chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He is an ally of Obasanjo. The Kogi state indigene is the first director-general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

He was also a minister of education. Ali was the deputy director of Army Medical Services and chief consulting physician of the Military Hospital in Kaduna.

He was director-general of the Goodluck Jonathan campaign organisation in 2015.

His wife caught the headlines when she defected from the PDP to the APC towards the end of last year.

SEGUN RUNSEWE

Runswe was the former chairman of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC).

Born in Kaduna, Runsewe from Ogun state, attended St. Michael Primary School, Kaduna before proceeding to Vohoeven Technical College Minna, now Government Technical College. He holds an MBA in marketing from Edo State University; higher national diploma in management studies from London School for Executives.

Obasanjo appointed him director-general of NTDC in 2000. He was relieved of his position in 2013 but Buhari reappointed him last year.

Runsewe is a loyalist of Obasanjo.

Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun state; Donald Duke, one-time governor of Cross River; Abubakar Danburam, former lawmaker from Kano, were among the top politicians who attended the programme.