THE Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Bashir Adamu, representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa Federal Constituency, and Yusuf Shitu Galambi, representing Gwaram Federal Constituency, both in Jigawa State, have dismissed on-going merger efforts of some political parties as empty threats to dislodge the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.
The two lawmakers spoke to The Guardian in Dutse during their condolence visit to Governor Sule Lamido over the demise of his uncle.
Adamu, who see the merger as good omen for the growth of the nation's democracy, said Nigeria would not be able to flourish without formidable opposition parties.
He added the crisis within PDP is not only healthy for democracy but is expected in any democratic party.
"They (parties in merger talks) can go ahead and form formidable opposition. But that will not stop PDP from making the usual impact that it is known for," Adamu said.
Galambi said he did not believe that the coming together of opposition parties in a merger arrangement would in any way affect the fortunes of PDP in 2015, adding that there had been merger arrangements against the party in the past without substantial results from such arrangements.
"In 2015, history will only repeat itself. So the merger is not a threat. I don't see the merger talk as a threat. PDP is too busy to put eye in the merger plans. Everybody knows that the opposition has started series of meetings which will not yield any positive result," Galambi said.
The Guardian