Progressives Congress (APC) and the Alhaji Abubakar Baraje-led New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as leaders of APC met with some of the G7 governors and New PDP leaders in Sokoto, on Tuesday.
That marriage may, however, take off on a turbulent note, as there were grumblings within some state chapters of APC, over the possible entrance of governors of Sokoto, Kano and Adamawa states into the party.
While reports of possible defection to APC had been on for sometime, further indications of such romance emerged on Tuesday at the inauguration of Sokoto State University, Sokoto, which was attended by leaders of New PDP and the APC.
Attendance at the event was seen as politically-motivated, especially as it was the first time leaders of both political groups would assemble without mixture with elements from the mainstream PDP
Some political observers, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, observed that the coming together of the opposition leaders could not be a mere coincidence, adding that the gathering transcended the inauguration of a state university, as it was a calculated plan ahead the 2015 presidential election.
Meanwhile, plans by some elements within the New PDP to join the APC was already creating anxieties in Sokoto, Kano and Adamawa states.
Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the increasing romance between the governors of Sokoto, Kano and Adamawa and the leadership of APC was creating ripples within the political camps of former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau; former Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa and the leadership of the APC in Adamawa State.
Insiders within Bafarawa and Shekarau camps confided in the Nigerian Tribune that Governor Aliyu Wamakko and Governor Musa Kwankwaso were only talking to national leaders of the party, as they were not welcome yet in the states.
According to one of the sources, "Kwankwaso has not approached us here in Kano and we still don't believe he is coming to our party. He is talking to them in Abuja and so we are waiting for him."
The source also confirmed that Kwankwaso and Shekarau were not on talking terms, adding that "it is still a huge joke, considering the level of political polarity between us in Kano politics."
An ally of Bafarawa, who did not want his name mentioned, said the case of Sokoto was more delicate, adding that "we are aware that Wamakko has been lobbying to join APC. He has been talking to Bola Tinubu and others. But we in APC may be endangered if they are allowed into the party."
The sources said for the governors to join the party, they must come through the grass-roots instead of joining from the top.
They also asked that party structure should not be handed over to them as, according to them, "doing that will destroy APC in the affected states."
According to one of the sources, "we have just completed the harmonisation of the structures of the three parties in Kano, for example.
"The process went well and all the three parties that fused are now well integrated. If you impose Kwankwaso on us, then the party will be in disarray."
Dignitaries at the Sokoto university on Tuesday were the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambawal; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, national leaders of APC, Senator Tinubu and General Muhammadu Buhari; former Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Rivers State governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi and the national chairman of the New PDP, Alhaji Baraje.
Others were Governor Kwankwaso, Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa; former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, among others.
However, speaking on the occasion, Governor Wamakko expressed the belief that the event had been able to bring the whole of Nigeria to Sokoto.
He said the state university had already started playing the role of bringing people from various parts of the country together for the good of the people of the country.
In his message, Tinubu commended the government and people of Sokoto State for bringing them together and for investing in education.
He said as the greatest weapon against poverty, they needed to partner to develop education for the progress of the country.
Also, General Buhari, who described education as the most important thing for nations of the world, lauded the Sokoto State governor for extending the invitation to him.
The guest of honour, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, shortly before he commissioned the project, charged the university management to make the institution relevant.
He said to do this, the university must offer courses which Nigeria wanted to further develop.
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