Good governance advocate Isaiah Ijele says the Rainbow Coalition is bigger than the APC, PDP and other political parties, arguing that Nigerians are increasingly willing to support candidates based on their preferences rather than party affiliations.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Saturday, Ijele said the coalition provides an opportunity for politicians and voters to work across party lines, allowing members to retain their political affiliations while supporting different candidates at state and national levels.
“I can bet to tell you this, that the Rainbow Coalition is beyond the numbers of people you are seeing in APC, in ADC, in NDC, in Labour Party, in SDP, in every other party, because Nigerians have realised that we want to move from the traditional political parties to the candidate of our choice.”
He explanined that the coalition was built around cooperation beyond political boundaries and offered an alternative to the traditional party system. “Look, remain in your party. Remain in ADC, Remain in PDP. Remain in APC. And vote for the candidate of your choice. That is what the Rainbow Coalition is all about.”
He cited Kogi State as an example, saying members of the coalition were working with politicians from different parties to support candidates for legislative positions while backing Tinubu for the presidency.
“Look, we will give you your seat as a senator. But for the presidency, leave it to us. We are going for Mr. President, the president of Bonament, and also to Natasha’s followers.”
On the political situation in Kogi East, Ijele said the district had received between N40 billion and N50 billion in federal allocations. “The essence that Kogui East have suffered enough in the hand of Beno, then to Odudu. As I said earlier, this is fact-checking. Between January to this moment, Kogi East have received fact allocation of over 40 to 50 billion.
That is not the internal IGR. And I said it again, no single project in the Nainoka government worth 50 million, 5 million. Now, we have been sidelined in the state.”
He called on President Tinubu to caution those he described as the executives of the judges.
“Look, this election, as far as I’m concerned, no presidential candidate is needed to be sidelined or removed from the ballot, because the Rainbow Coalition is beyond even the APC.”
Ijele also defended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, despite disagreeing with some of his political statements. “I don’t subscribe to some statement that we have already won the election. But by the look of him and by the situation around the country, you know that yes, some certain people, some governors have won the election.”
He added that Wike’s political statements did not take away from what he considered his achievements in the FCT.
“I cannot defend him in some of his statements. I cannot also speak for him. I know he’s focussing. But look here, he’s doing very, very well.”
Ijele also urged Nigerian youths to join the Rainbow Coalition, saying it could help overcome divisions created by traditional political parties along religious and ethnic lines.
“Let’s form a coalition that will bring those who represent us at the state level, at the national level, to the shape of the government.”
He further raised concerns about the distribution of federal allocations to state and local governments, questioning whether residents were benefiting from the funds transferred to their elected officials.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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