Nigeria Content Online

The Congress for
Progressive Change (CPC), has defended members of the Save Nigeria
Group (SNG) over allegations that they were campaigning for the
election of Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 elections.

The national
publicity secretary of the party, Dennis Agbanya, said in a statement
that the members who were expelled for partisan activities were
actually protecting the interest of the country.

He said caution was
needed before concluding that the members, who included Tunde Bakare
and Yinka Odumakin, were working towards endorsing a presidential
candidate for the 2011 general elections.

“The activities of
(the) Pastor Tunde Bakare-led SNG has been of great interest and
benefit to the Nigerian masses since its inception,” said Mr Agbanya.
“It will be of great concern to all genuine democrats to hear of cracks
emerging within the ranks of the group.”

Discard neutrality

According to him,
such pressure groups are designed to influence the actions of
governments or political interest groups for the benefit of all in the
society.

He compared SNG to the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in the days of the military.

Mr Agbanya said
NADECO succeeded in pressuring the military to quit and hand over to a
civilian government, but failed to properly midwife that transition so
that men of integrity and vision could take power.

“The mistake resulted in the mis-governance we are witnessing in the
country, as criminals and selfish people hijacked power,” he said.
“Hence, the need for us to go back to the trenches. We should,
therefore, learn by history and ensure that such mistakes are not
repeated this time.” The party’s spokesman said the SNG should
participate in determining who emerges as the next president of Nigeria.