Ahead of the 2023 general elections, 30 prominent Nigerian activists, academics and other professionals have formed a new political movement called National Consultative Front.
This was contained in a communique issued “after a month- long nationwide consultation” and virtual meetings.
The communique was made public by the new group’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
Among members of the 30-member steering committee for the NCF are a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Na’abba; a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Obadiah Mailafia, Femi Falana (SAN), Col. Abubakar Umar (retd.), Mrs Obigeli Ezekwesili, Prof. Jibo Ibrahim, Yabagi Sanni, Isa Aremu, Prof Chidi Odinkalu and Senator Shehu Sanni, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Alhaji Shettima Yerima and Funke Awolowo.
Part of the resolutions adopted after the meeting read in part, “A new ideological mass movement shall be initiated to embark on an immediate mass mobilisation in the nooks and crannies of the country for popular mass action towards political constitution reforms that is citizens-driven and process-led in engendering a new peoples’ constitution for a new Nigeria that can work for all.
“To this end, we decry in categorical terms, the ongoing mindless massacre and kidnappings in the North-West, North-East, Southern Kaduna, the Middle Belt, Southern part of Nigeria and in fact the country at large by bandits and insurgents, who invade our communities, especially at night to inflict terror and murder on hapless residents and unsuspecting indigenes.
“We hereby call on those presently in charge of our Federal Government, military and security apparatus to immediately wake up and do everything to stop the ongoing senseless pogrom against the masses of our people.”
Na’Aba, Utomi, Falana, Agbakoba float party
By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor
A New political party, ‘National Consultative Front,’ was midwifed on Wednesday by a group of politicians, Labour leaders and human rights activists.
Its founders said the new party will have ideological outlook and mobilise Nigerians to take power like the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa.
Founding leaders of the new political movement include former military governor of Kaduna State, Col. Dangiwa Umar (rtd), Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), Dr. Oby Ezekwesili and former Central Bank Deputy Governor Mailafia Obadiah.
Many of those behind the party belong to the different mushroom opposition parties on which platforms they had contested in the past.
Having founded a new party, they are expected to resign from their former parties. However, the new association will also have to meet some criteria set by the electoral agency, particularly spread, to qualify for registration.
The founders described the new party as an alternative platform that would save the country from what they called imminent political collapse and civil strife.
In a communique on their behalf by Prof. Anthony Kila and Jibo Ibrahim, the group vowed to pursue reforms across the sectors.
According to the statement, the secretariat of the National Consultative Front has been mandated to immediately facilitate an interim steering coordinating council made up of experienced leaders of conscience and democratic ideologues to drive a new popular political intervention that will urgently save Nigeria from the precipice of political anarchy and civil strife.
It said that the provisional leadership shall be inclusive and collegiate in structure, capturing the critical segments and crucial essence of the Nigerian diversity.
The group promised to mobilise for constitutional reforms and demand for the implementation of Chapter Two of the 1999 Constitution, which is the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.
Other chieftains of the party are: Yabagi Yusuf Sannu, Amb Nkoyo Toyo, Comrade Isa Aremu; Prof Chidi Odinkalu; Dr Kemi George; Dan Nwanyanwu; Dr Osagie Obayuawana; Mallam Shehu Sanni; Prof Remi Sonaya; Mallam Tanko Yinusa; Alhaji Shettima Yerima; Lady Funke Awolowo; Peter Ameh; Ogbeni Lanre Banjo; Mrs. Georgina Dakpokpo; Dr Chris Ekiyor; Mr. Jude Feranmi; Saadatu Falila Hamu; Mallam Hamzat Lawal; Hajia Khadijat Abdullahi and Mr. Alistair Soyode.

By John Alechenu