Correspondent ADEKUNLE JIMOH of The Nation writes on the bond of unity between the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains in Kwara State, following the merger of the two antagonistic camps.

In politics, there is no permanent enemy, but permanent interest. Initially, there were skirmishes in Kwara State when the merger of the All Progressives Congress (APC)and the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was consummated. But, reality has now dawned on the chieftains on both sides that they are bounded together by destiny. In 2015,the political foes of yesteryears will work together for the success of their platform, the APC.

The political temperature of Kwara is rising. Indeed, mixed feelings trailed the defection of the Senator Bukola Saraki-led nPDP to the APC. To some members of the Bamanga Tukur-led faction, Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed's defection is good riddance to bad rubbish. But, to the camp of the former Action Congress of Nigeria governorship candidate, Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN), it is a moment of sober reflection.

The import of Saraki's defection was not lost on key PDP chieftains, including former Transport Minister Bio Ibrahim and the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem. Saraki, the son and the inheritor of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki's formidable structure, was a strong factor in the PDP. Therefore, observers have pointed out that the PDP may become a ghost of itself in the state.

Following the defection, Kwara PDP leaders were jittery. In a statement by Dr Abdulsalam Abdulsalam (Kwara Central), Iliasu Ibrahim (Kwara North) and Chief Lanre Ogundeji (Kwara South), the party described Saraki and Ahmed's defection as a blessing in disguise. The chapter assured Tukur of its unalloyed loyalty.

"As we journey towards 2015, we wish to state categorically that the exit of these people will not affect the fortune, progress and prosperity of our great PDP in the state," they said.

There was a quarrel between Saraki's men and the PDP chieftains over the ownership of the party secretariat. The Police had to sealed off the office to prevent a breakdown of law and order.Former PDP chairman Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani said that the police could not seal the structure, adding that the property belonged to Saraki.

"Where you are today is Saraki's office. It belongs to our leader, Senator Bukola Saraki. Though this place used to be the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s secretariat, but, since our merger with the All Progressives Congress (APC,) we have turned it to Sarakites' office. This is the receipt which bears my name. We paid N800,000 for this place. It is not in the name of PDP. Nobody can occupy this place, if PDP wants to use wants to use any office they go outside and rent their own office.

"As we have merged with the APC, as soon as all the arrangements for merger were completed, this place automatically becomes the APC office", he said.

However, a member of the House of Assembly from the Ipaye/Oloru/Malete Constituency, Iliasu Ibrahim, debunked Balogun-Fulani's claim."That party secretariat has been in existence before the emergence of Saraki and, since they defected to the other party, they should leave our party secretariat for us", he said.

Before the fears of the old ACN members in the APC were allayed, they also expressed reservations about Saraki's defection. A chieftain, Rev. Bunmi Olusona, said that the challenges of fusion should be tackled in the collective interest of the new and old APC members. "Ihe Bukola Saraki-led PDP is welcome to APC, but we urge the group to abide by the terms of the people it met on ground. We are prepared to accept them, but they cannot start by telling us that we have no structure. They cannot start by telling us that they will dictate what is going to happen in this party to us. We have laboured to build the party in the state," he said.

Olusona, who was a member of the ACN Caretaker Committee, added: "We are shocked to read in the newspapers the comments attributed to the chairman of the Kwara PDP that APC has no structure.

But the former New PDP Secretary,Prince Afolayan, called for a truce. He said that "the party chairman was probably quoted out of context."

To allay the fear of his followers, Belgore returned to llorin, the state capital, with a message of peace. He said the party will not compromise the interest of any member. "There is a lot of apprehension concerning the entry of the G-7 governors and what it portends for the APC members in Kwara and the state. My first task, which had done through a caucus, was to inform the people that there is no reason for any apprehension. We remain members of the APC. We remain committed and we remain together as a formidable group within that party. And that situation is dynamic; we are reviewing it as we go along.

"We are setting up committees to evaluate the situation at a local level on ward by ward, local government by local government basis what the merger means to the people and how they want to react to every situation.

"It is not about Dele Belgore now; it is about the community interest and the community interest upon which we entered into this race in 2010 is that we are fighting for change,for liberation and opportunity in the state, for economic empowerment, for upliftment, for the greatest good for the greatest number, more like utilitarian view essentially.

"In other words, we want to take politics of Kwara out of the hands of a very selfish, domineering select group and broaden the space so that there will be an opportunity for everyone to develop their ability and talent. That is the message we began with and that is the bond that I have with the people.

"That course is the first thing that connects us and we are not about to give it up. That course is the essence of our political existence it can never be negotiated. Given this background, you can then see how recent event touch them directly.

"My point of view, even with the merger, is that we are not compromising what we believe in. If working together means buying into what we believe in, then, fine. But, we are not compromising our ideals for anybody."

Belgore added: "Our supporters feel completely disenchanted with the leadership of our party. They felt that the course of the struggle in Kwara was not taking into consideration at the time these discussions were held.

"My first duty is to explain to them that there is a main plot from the point of view of the national leadership and then there are various sub-plots which now look at the peculiarities of each state, but as you politics is local you are only concerned with that which affects you. They are now saying if that is the case why are we still here? But we are telling them that we are in the APC that nobody is going to push them out."

However, former House of Representatives member Hon. Bashir Bolarinwa allayed Belgore's fears. He urged the APC family to acknowledge the expansion of the party, adding that the leadership should not discriminate against new members. Bolarinwa said the interest of the state should be paramount to the party.

He added: "The struggle for a new lease of life for our people will continue and shall be strengthened as we proceed to 2015. We cannot abandon our struggle midway or our natural habitat for any reason. We are committed to the ideals of the founders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is to rescue the nation from perpetual poverty, high handedness in power and economic deprivation.

"Running from pillar to post cannot solve the incursion of an enemy. If you run away from Ila, who says you won't meet another one in Ilala. We have a responsibility to build the party together and entrench the principles of fair play and equity where the pride of every member will be guaranteed".

Former nPDP Secretary Prince Afolayan said the APC is a credible option to the PDP, owing to its progressive outlook. He noted that the merger of the two parties will ensure an all-inclusive administration that will consolidate the current transformation agenda of the Ahmed Administration.

"I advise all Kwarans to see the merger as a clarion call on all to become state builders and transit the state into a model one in Nigeria", he added.