The Director-General of the Nigeria Intervention Movement (NIM) otherwise known as 3rd Force, Hon. Olawale Okunniyi, has said that his movement has not merged with any of the existing political parties in the country.

Okunniyi cleared the air on the true position of NIM following widespread rumour during the week that NIM has merged with the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Addressing members at the inaugural meeting of the Lagos State Chapter of NIM held today at Ikeja, Okunniyi said: “It is imperative at this point to categorically state, as the head of NIM’s National Secretariat in Abuja, that our great movement NIM is yet to take a decision to merge with any political party, as NIM is yet to get to that stage by the provision of its official time table approved by NIM’s National Caucus.”

Okunniyi however disclosed that NIM is currently holding talks on electoral alliance towards adopting a coalition power platform by May 2018 for the 2019 elections but said its leadership was yet to meet to take a decision on the question of merging with any political party at this material point as, according to him, “that may be counter-productive to our membership recruitment towards our revolutionary road map for 2019.”

Speaking further during the well attended meeting, Okunniyi admonished members to be ready to make sacrifices for the liberation of the people.

“The Nigerian people have been pauperised and impoverished under the present regime. Even the rich have not been spared. We must be ready to make some sacrifices to liberate ourselves from the slave master for our own benefit and the future generations.

“We must march to conquer. We are on the verge of making history. NIM must not only be, but it must be seen to be, the conscience of the nation,” he said.

The DG also divulged that as a prelude to the National Political Summit and Official launch of NIM scheduled for March 21 in Abuja, the movement is currently involved in mobilisation and strategic discussions with about 35 political parties in the country including Labour Party, National Conscience Party, Accord Party, Mega Party, among others.