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Tag: ANPP

  • Anambra poll: ANPP, CPC withdraw from APC merger

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Anambra State have pulled out of the All Progressive Congress (APC) merger ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.

    The state Secretary of defunct ANPP, Mr. Mike Igwilo, made this known to journalists in Awka on Thursday.

    Igwilo said the party was pulling out because it was not consulted in all the activities leading to the merger and the recent primaries in the state that produced Sen. Chris Ngige as the flag bearer.

    “We are marginalised in the party and not carried along. For this reason, we find it difficult to explain the merger to our supporters who now float like sheep without shepherd,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the ANPP chief as saying to journalists.

    Igwilo said that ANPP would make public its next plan of action before the end of September.

    At a separate news conference, the state Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Mr. Chuba Ikeagwu, told journalists that the party had joined the newly formed People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).

    He said the APC did not give a level playing ground for other merging political parties to compete for the governorship ticket in the primaries, alleging that only the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) controlled the party machinery in the state.

    “There is no equity in the sharing of positions, ACN dominated and took everything,’’ Ikeagwu alleged.

     

  • Agenda for APC

    Agenda for APC

    The new party must differentiate itself from the pack with its vision and mission statement

    The euphoria over the successful merger of some political parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) is understandable, considering that it is the first time such an effort has been consummated in the history of Nigeria. For such a feat, the leaders of the defunct parties that merged – the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) deserve the commendation of all democrats for their sacrifices that hopefully will enhance our democratic enterprise. Having achieved the current success, the next step is for the leaders to stir the new party to fulfill the potential of an enduring democratic Nigeria.

    We have no doubt that every democratic Nigerian nurses the hope that the APC will signal the organic emergence of a two dominant party structure in Nigeria. As the history of political parties in Nigeria will show, there have been several failed attempts by disparate parties to coalesce into two major parties as national elections approached; unfortunately, such attempts were usually bogged down by parochial interests. In the First Republic, two broad-based political alliances were formed to fight for elections, but they were unable to consolidate as soon as the election successes were achieved or proved unrealisable. The same fate bedevilled the political accords entered into by the substantially regionally based parties during the Second Republic; and of course they all collapsed as soon as the objective proved a forlorn hope.

    Ironically, it was through a military fiat that a two-party structure emerged in the still-born Third Republic. But even with their birth defects, the National Republican Convention (NRC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP) were able to provide a virile two-party structure that potentially dealt a blow to religious and regional-based political party structure in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the military which created the two parties also summarily executed them with the same fiat as they had decreed them into existence. With the birth of the current republic, the reemergence of atomised ethnic-based parties resurfaced, and several efforts to come together had failed until the registration of APC.

    So, the emergence of APC brings hope to Nigerians that ethnic and religiously biased parties in the country, may eventually disappear. But there is enormous work to be done to achieve this Eldorado. Towards this, it is hoped that the leadership of the new party will work towards expanding its membership, to enable Nigerians of all ethnic and economic backgrounds gain access to the party. If such expansion is achieved, the APC will join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to form the two broad parties to act as viable alternatives for the Nigerian electorate.

    In working to achieve a national spread, the new party must also seek to distinguish itself from the existing lot, in character and content. To achieve such prospect, there is the immediate need for the party to clearly define its vision and mission in a way that will appeal to Nigerians across ethnic and religious divides. The party must also work hard to instill internal democracy and discipline among its members, to ensure that it attracts quality membership, instead of the vagabonds that populate most political parties. Such a vision must also be founded on patriotic principles to help guide its members, to work for a better country.

    It will indeed be exciting to see the new party move in a direction that will inspire confidence in Nigerians. Its members must not pretend that they are insulated from the unfortunate vagaries of our modern day partisan politics, such as the type that has turned the ruling PDP into a constant war front. Part of the cause of the internal wrangling within the PDP and most other parties is the lack of any guiding ideology, as the parties are seen as mere avenues for power and economic aggrandisement. Regrettably for most politicians, party politics in Nigeria are mere outposts for exploiting the economy and people of Nigeria, without any regards whatsoever to the sustainability of the system.

    So, Nigerians will be utterly disappointed if for any reason, the APC turns into a cult or aggregation of the alternative exploiters of the country. As we celebrate the possibilities that the party portends, it is fitting to commend the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for sticking to the provisions of the constitution and the electoral act in this matter. We also commend Nigerians and the national institutions, like the courts, and urge them to maintain eternal vigilance to ensure that the gains of this merger are not truncated by anti-democratic forces.

    Once again we wish the All Progressives Congress a fruitful life in the service of our country.

  • Benue ACN, ANPP, CPC to unite for polls

    The three major opposition parties in Benue State will work together in the forthcoming elections to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was learnt yesterday.

    The three parties – the Action Congress Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) – announced their resolve after a meeting on Monday.

    A communiqué was issued at the end of the meeting of the parties’ leaders at the home of Senate Minority Leader George Akume. It was signed by Senator Joseph Waku (ACN), Nelson Alapa (ANNPI and J. T. Orka (CPC) and made available to The Nation.

    Leaders of the parties, who are now in the newly formed All Progressives Congress (APC), stressed the need for all to work in harmony and take over Benue State ahead of the 2015 general elections.

    The meeting resolved to boycott all meetings except those convened by Akume, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Neslson Alapa and Senator Waku, who are national leaders and chieftains of their parties.

    The APC leaders expressed appreciation to Akume for his leadership virtues. They hailed other opposition leaders for their moral and financial support to the realisation of good government and leadership in Nigeria.

    Waku read the communique on behalf of the APC leaders after the meeting.

    Also, the Benue State Chairman of ACN, Comrade Abba Yaro, has urged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFFC) to investigate the Bureau for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    Addressing reporters after the meeting of APC leaders in Makurdi, Yaro alleged that fraud being perpetrated through massive deduction of local government allocations.

    He accused officials of the bureau of complicity in the alleged fraud.

    The ACN chairman alleged that during the June federal allocations, when the state received N20.1 billion, including the fund from the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SRE-P), some local governments could still not pay their workers’salaries because their allocation were allegedly deducted by the bureau.

    “Some local governments in Benue State received up to N100 million, but the Bureau for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs gave them a little over N50 million and forced them to sign that they collected N100 million,” Yaro said.

     

  • Merger: ANPP sets up committee for key positions in APC

    •PDP will not escape defeat in 2015, says Onu

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday set up a committee to share nine key positions allotted to it in the merger with other opposition parties under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The committee is headed by the National Chairman of the party, Dr. OgbonnayaOnu

    This was part of the resolution at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of ANPP in Abuja

    National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Emma Eneukwu, who disclosed the outcome of the meeting to newsmen said the nine key positions are: “National Secretary, National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Organising Secretary, National Welfare Secretary, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, two Vice Chairmen and two Ex-officio members.”

    Onu told party members that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would be defeated in 2015 election with the formation of APC.

    Though he acknowledged that the process is going to be difficult, he said it is achievable with hard work from the merging opposition parties.

    His words: “This merger has strengthened the hand of our governors. Success, in future elections, can now be better guaranteed.

    “I am confident that with the APC on ground, realising our goal of producing the next president of our country is possible, if elections are free and fair.”

    The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of ANPP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, denied rumours that the sharing formula for positions in APC is causing rifts.

    According to him: “There is no crisis and there will never be. We are united in the merger process. All the opposition parties are united in this major process. People are just insinuating.”

    Delegates from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present to observe the proceeding of the NEC meeting.

     

  • PDP, ACN, ANPP: Where is internal democracy?

    PDP, ACN, ANPP: Where is internal democracy?

    Have the political parties added value to democracy? MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examines the challenges confronting the platforms.

     

    At the blast of the whistle in 1999, three political parties -the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the All Peoples Party (APP), which later became the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) contested the first general elections. However, the number of the parties later increased to 63.

    In the 2011 elections, only 10 of the parties won seats in the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly, a development which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) explained, was not good enough.

    INEC said it was no longer wise for some of these parties to be sustained on tax payers’ money without making impact in the polity. This led to the axing of 28 political parties on December 6, 2012 and went ahead de-registered another seven later.

    Though the decision was criticised, INEC went ahead to justify the action based on the provisions of Section 7 of the Electoral Act, 2011. And currently INEC has not more than 37 political parties in its kitty and more are likely to go as 2015 draws nearer.

    While the INEC is mopping up the political climate to make it healthier, three major political parties; the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), and a faction of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) decided to form a mega party the All Progressives Congress (APC), in order to wrest power from the ruling PDP.

    As theAPC formalises its registration process, another association, All African Congress (APC), said it has forwarded an application to the INEC for registration as a political party.

    Although INEC has explained that the association had not met the requirements for registration, the association had gone to court over the matter and the outcome is being awaited. This and other challenges have dogged the polity and how they would be resolved is generating more interests.

    ACN Publicity Secretary Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the use of his party acronym by another association though in court, would not in any way affect the registration of APC.

    He said: “I think Nigerians should be properly educated on this matter. As at today, there is no political party that is known with acronym of APC. There is a political association with the name African Peoples Congress (APC) whose application has been received by INEC and INEC says that it had not met certain conditions. Now that the party had gone to court to challenge the power of INEC, I will not want to comment any further.

    Defending its credibility, ANPP chieftain, Mallam Ibrahim Sekarau explained that issues of internal democracy is far from what APC will contend because the party came up in the first place to salvage the country and would not be drawn aback by such narrow interests.

    He said: “APC will fill vacant party offices and those that will contest 2015 election based on geo-political zones. No region or zone would be given the chance to dominate others just for the sake of political domination.”

    Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar at the Golden Jubilee of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, lashed out at the major parties for lack of internal democracy.

    He accused them of promoting politics of god-fatherism and dictatorship since the country returned to civil rule in 1999.

    The lack of internal democracy in some of the parties has snowballed into legal battle. For instance, the composition of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) made some members to inevitably go to court to challenge its composition with the electoral umpire saying the PDP did not comply with laid down regulations.

    But the party’s National Vice Chairman Southwest, Ishola Filani debunked the INEC claim.

    “Our party has maintained internal democracy and there is no crisis that we cannot handle. We sit together and discuss matters. Those who went to court have not really come out with any report to justify their position. Anyway, why does it take INEC over One and half year to say that NEC was not properly constituted? Was it not there when the election was conducted?, “ he querried.

    The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is thorn apart by factions. And except this is resolved within reasonable time, analysts believ it could undermine its chances in future elections.

    Former governor of Kaduna State and the Chairman of Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Alhaji Balabe Musa, said leadership crisis in these parties is pervasive because of self interest. He noted that the leaders of the political parties have not looked beyond personal aggrandisement.

    “Let me say the formation APC is just one step now. They are now moving to the harder part which must also entail party discipline. We must learn from the previous political parties like PPA, PPP and SDP.”

    “Some of these political parties like SDP under Chief Tony Anenih could not muster sufficient courage to stand by Chief M.K.O Abiola who won the 1993 presidential election. He was not declared winner and was killed in the process. It was expected that the leadership of the party should stand by him but that was not the case.”

    It is held by analysts that one of the ways to encourage internal democracy in political parties is to allow independent candidature. Political observers noted that if independent candidate s are allowed to contest elections, some individuals who do not believe in the ideologies of the existing parties, would have the chance to serve the country.

    But Professor Abubabar Momoh who teaches Political Science at the Lagos State University (LASU) in his view explained that the system would be hijacked by money bags which will make the exercise a jamboree.

    “All the parties we have now have the same ideological stand. They are not fundamentally different. The same people are moving from one party to another emerging parties and all they are interested in is just to have power”. and not that they have some fundamental principles or ideas they want to put forward.”

  • CPC, ANPP, others kick as PDP suspends Rivers governor

    CPC, ANPP, others kick as PDP suspends Rivers governor

    The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suspended Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi from the party.

    It said Ameachi was suspended for refusing to obey the “lawful directive” of the Rivers State Executive Committee asking him to rescind his dissolution of the elected executive council of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, said it relied on Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b) for the action.

    By his action, the party said, Amaechi violated Articles 58 1 (b), (c), (h) and (m) of the PDP constitution.

    The statement by the party said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) at its emergency meeting on Monday, 27 May, 2013 considered the petition submitted by the PDP Rivers Executive Committee against His Excellency, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, for violating Articles 58 1 (b), (c ), (h) and (m) of the PDP Constitution following his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State Executive Committee to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    “The National Working Committee, after preliminary hearing, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b), hereby suspends the Executive Governor of River State, Rt Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as a member of the PDP and refers the matter to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the Party.

    “This is in furtherance of the determination of the leadership of the party to enforce discipline at all levels within the party.”

    Sections and Article quoted by Metuh from the PDP 2012 Constitution as amended reads, 58 1 (B) “subject to the provision of this constitution, the Party shall have power to discipline any member who says or does anything likely to bring the party into disrepute, hatred or contempt;

    “(c) disobeys or neglects to carry out lawful directives of the party or any organ or officer of the party;

    (h) engages in any conduct likely to cause disaffection among members of the party or is likely to disrupt the peaceful, lawful and efficient conduct of the business of party;

    (m) false, refuses or neglects to treat a petition, complaints or appeal timeously.

    “57 (3) The Working Committee, at any level of the party, and the Executive Committee (at the Ward Level) may, after preliminary hearings, suspend a member from the party for a period not exceeding one month, during which period the member so suspended shall lose his right to contest any elections, and shall be referred to the appropriate Disciplinary Committee.

    “59 (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this constitution relating to discipline, no Executive Committee at any level except the National Executive Committee shall entertain any question of discipline as may relate or concern a member of the National Executive Committee, President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, Ministers, Ambassadors, Special Advisers or member of any of the legislative houses.

    “(5) subject to the provisions of this constitution, the National Executive Committee shall have power to expel any member of the party for acts of indiscipline or misconduct which brings, or is likely to bring, the party into disrepute.

    “29 (2. b) in case of emergency, act on behalf of the National Executive Committee subject to ratification by the National Executive Committee.

    The party named Mr. Joe Gadzama SAN as chairman of an 11-member panel to investigate the matters connected with Amaechi’s suspension.

    Metuh, who announced the setting up of the panel, said the panel was expected to submit its recommendation to the party’s NWC.

    Metuh isolated the decision to suspend Amaechi from the crisis arising from the outcome of Friday’s election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum won by Amaechi against the expectation of powerful stakeholders in the ruling party.

    He based Amaechi’ s suspension on his refusal to rescind the decision by the Rivers State House of Assembly suspending the executive council of the Obio/Akpor Local Government in Rivers State.

    According to him, it was incumbent on the governor to rescind the decision, as directed by a faction of the executive committee of the Rivers chapter of the PDP.

    “Going by the party’s constitution, the governor was expected to have rescinded the suspension order handed the executive council of the Obio/Akpor Local Government by the Rivers State Assembly,” Metuh added.

    Asked whether the suspension of the council was the first of its kind in PDP-controlled states, Metuh said it was the first under the Bamanga Tukur-led NWC.

    He stressed that the party was less concerned with similar suspension of councils in other states under previous leadership of the party.

    The PDP spokesman said the decision to suspend Amaechi was not meant to pull the governor down.

    “We did not take the decision to pull anyone down. We are not out to destroy or condemn the governor. We are not saying that Ameachi is wrong. When you are administering a party, you must ensure there is discipline in the party,” Metuh said.

    Asked whether as the national leader of the party, President Goodluck Jonathan was consulted before the decision to suspend Amaechi was taken, Metuh said the party did not have to consult the President before taking a decision.

    Other members of the Gadzama panel are: Victor Kwom, Inalegwu Onche, Friday Nwosu, Udorji Amedu, Ola Kukoyi and Wakil Mohammed.

    The list also include Yusuf Jangwe, Mrs. Bola Doherty, Tanimu Adamson and Anicho Okoro, who is to serve as secretary to the panel.

    Metuh did not give a time frame within which the panel is expected to submit its report to the leadership of the party.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications Mrs Ibim Semenitari, in a statement, said: “We are concerned as we believe this is political witch hunt. It is worrisome. The reason given is the suspension of the Obio/Akpor council. This is puerile.”

  • ANPP, CPC: it’s a wrong step

    ANPP, CPC: it’s a wrong step

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for suspending Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    They spoke in separate statements in Abuja .

    The ANPP said the action is dangerous for democracy while the CPC described it as a wrong step and another evidence of President Goodluck Jonathan’s desperate move to be re elected.

    The statement by ANPP National Publicity Secretary Emma Eneukwu said: “The suspension of Amaechi is a colossal affront on democracy and a dagger in the soul of its practices.

    “We ask? What is the crime of Chief Amaechi? We proffer an answer: he won election as Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum by 19 votes to 16 scored by his closest challenger.

    “Even though we respect the internal dimension of the recent decision of the PDP, but as committed democrats, we are constrained to react in view of its wider implication in our nation’s democratic practice.

    “We wonder at how a political party that lays claim to democratic usages could rise to suspend one of its own for winning an election!

    “This action rubbishes its claim to any democratic credential, as it has clearly shown that it practices despotism and the tyranny of a cabal.

    “We worry at this dangerous development and ask Nigerians to take due notice of this charade and place it in perspective in view of the forthcoming 2015 general elections.

    “As a political party, we are alarmed at this unwholesome development and urge all lovers of democracy to remain vigilant and join us in our resolve to resist this burgeoning cankerworm.”

    CPC National Publicity Secretary Rotimi Fashakin, CPC said: “The CPC, undoubtedly, is pained by the portent of this infra-dig to the entrenchment of inspiring democratic values in the polity. “We believe that there are democratic instruments available for resolving differences between a President and governor in a Presidential system, without unduly overheating the polity.

    For instance, in 2010, Ms Jan Brewer, the Republican governor of Arizona state in the United States of America assented to a bill that gave Police officers wide latitude to stop people suspected of illegal Immigration. The US President, Barack Obama did not show his objection by planning some surreptitious impeachment of the governor – as PDP Presidents are known for. “Instead, he sought judicial interpretation of the matter. In a five against three unanimous votes, the US Supreme Court threw away this offending clause. That is the way of the rule of law, which is still alien to the present crop of leaders of the PDP.

    “It is in this vein that we view the suspension of Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the manifestation of a Party at war with itself. It beggars belief that the PDP decided to jettison the law of natural justice of not being Judge in one’s cause. It is a Party whose implosion is imminent. Unfortunately, there is no voice of reason anymore because this despicable leadership style ensures obsequious subservience! We hereby enjoin the Nigerian people not to lose sight of the portent of the deplorable tactics to the survival of our democracy. Indeed, the increasing desperation of the President is already causing more trepidation as we move towards the 2015 elections. It is our hope that the President will arrest this drift to the Abyss of his Party and the anticipated collateral damage to the polity.

    The CPC said it was appalled by the sordid affair that the recently concluded chairmanship election of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) degenerated into.

  • APC: A merger here to stay

    Politics concerns everything in life and it is usually a very serious affair. In Nigeria, the major political story dominating the airwaves is that of a newly formed political party – the All Progressive Congress (APC), born from a merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). As the seconds click towards the 2015 general elections, the polity is heating up. And at the centre of the heat is the APC, famed potentially to be the biggest opposition party to arise in the country.

    Faced with hurdles, even before the APC started flying, the party’s christening generated controversy when two other political parties claimed to have submitted application bearing the same acronyms. But, considering that the first goal of the APC is to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), that issued can easily be resolved.

    Since the coming of the fourth republic in Nigeria, the PDP has held sway both at the federal government level and in many other states too. But, today, that popularity is waning, even among erstwhile supporters. Suddenly, there seems to be a yawning need for change in Nigeria shared by many people. To them, the PDP as a party is just not capable of delivering the democracy dividends anymore. This perhaps account for the overwhelming support which the APC has been receiving in states under ACN, CPC, ANPP, and APGA rule.

    A week after the formation of the party, Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola, likened APC to a marriage. But, from indications, this is not a marriage of convenience. And it seems for once, the PDP stranglehold is really threatened. I consider that a relief. Joining Fashola on this cause include the governors of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi; Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun; Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi; and that of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Others are Adams Oshiomhole of Edo; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara; Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa; and Kashim Shettima of Borno State. And state after state, directed by governors of those states, the APC chant is growing louder.

    Watching events since the party was formed by a coalition of four political parties in February, I’ve seen people after people embrace what the APC stands for; change. This change is not just about change of power, rather it is a change for a better life. Already, APC has stated that its priority programmes include agricultural development, job creation, free education, affordable healthcare, infrastructural development, adequate power supply, eradication of poverty and corruption and rapid technological advancement and industrialisation. No doubt, this is what we need at this moment.

    And, I’m particularly happy that Fashola is in the forefront of the APC cause because in Lagos, Fashola has succeeded in shoring up development from where his predecessor left off. The little frustrations the Lagos State government has suffered in its developmental strides has come largely from an obstinate PDP-led federal government that would rather gloat on triumphing over political opponents than seeing overall progress put in place.

    However, now that the APC, a true opposition party, has come home to roost, the fight to wrestle power and consequently a better future for Nigeria and Nigerians must not be left solely in the hands of politicians alone. In this guise, religious, ethnic, and professional groups must also come on-board to stop the mortgage of the country’s future. This PDP tyranny must be fought. Already, some mischievous pundits are saying APC is full of strange bedfellows. Recently, referring to cracks in the APGA, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, had said that only few people stayed away from joining the new party. Okorocha said, “As far as I know, the real members of APGA are with APC and Nigerians are aware of that.”

    The truth is that, as it is, proponents of APC believe in the party’s unity.

    In a letter to the editor which was published in The Nation newspaper of Monday, May 20, governor Fashola agreed “that all previous merger attempts have been unsuccessful.” But, advising personnel of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Fashola said the body should leave the choice of whether the APC be or not to be left to Nigerians to decide.

    “The most important thing that this merger will achieve, is that it gives the people of Nigeria a real choice as to who to trust with their affairs,” Fashola wrote.

    “This is instructive because a choice between the PDP and the PDP is not a choice.”

    Before the advent of APC, no other party could have been so ambitious to position itself as a formidable option. Likening the opposition to an ‘automobile workshop without basic tools,’ Fashola decried the opposition’s inability to fund power projects, fund security agencies, or fund anything.

    “When we create that choice and the people of Nigeria decide that they want to stay with the party that has brought us this far then they will have made their choice – A real choice.”

    If this real choice was absent in previous mergers, the PDP must be realising now that this time, the merger is for real. And it is potent too.

     

    • Akinmosa wrote from Agege, Lagos.

     

  • ‘PDP plants moles in ANPP to scuttle merger’

    ‘PDP plants moles in ANPP to scuttle merger’

    The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate in Niger State in the 2011 general elections, Mr. David Umaru, has claimed that he has uncovered plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to scuttle the merger of the party with three others to form the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    He alleged that the emergence of the State Interim Management Committee purportedly constituted by the national leadership of the party was not only unconstitutional, but that members of the committee are moles of the PDP planted to scuttle the merger.

    Speaking in an interview in Minna yesterday, Umaru, the party’s leader in the state, alleged that members of the Interim Management Committee are agents of the PDP planted in ANPP to act the script of the PDP to thwart the merger.

    He said some members of the committee were known to be on the payroll of the PDP-led administration of Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

    The ANPP leader alleged that the committee was constituted secretly without the knowledge of the constitutionally-recognised leaders and stakeholders, with the intention of scuttling the merger plan by further polarising the party.

    He said Hajiya Mohammed Jumai remained the Chairman of ANPP in the state, adding that his group would not allow the PDP moles to disrupt the merger.

    At the weekend, the Mrs. Afiniki Dauda-led Interim Management Committee, at its inaugural meeting, urged party members to forget their grievances and ensure that ANPP enters into a merger with other parties in the state.

    Mrs. Afiniki said her committee would ensure that aggrieved members were reconciled in keeping with the directive of the national secretariat.

    But Mr. Umaru, a lawyer, said the party was not in a crisis in the state that would warrant a reconciliation committee.

    He added: “These are the same people used by the PDP in 2011 to cause problems in the party.”

     

     

     

     

  • CPC, ANPP cautious

    CPC, ANPP cautious

    •PDP backs Jonathan on state of emergency

    The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday faureacted controversy to declaration of State of Emergency.

    National Publicity Secretary of CPC, Mr Rotimi Fashakin said: “Yes President Goodluck Jonathan has full view of things more than anyone by virtue of his privileged position. He is empowered by the Nigeria constitution to declare a State of Emergency in three states. But it is belated. The fact that the political structures have not been dismantled makes it different from what his predecessor did.

    The situation in these states is dire and behooves all of us as citizens to rally round the president and ensure that peace is restored to the region. As a party, we hope this latest action will bring the elusive peace.

    “We hope this is not another means by the President and his political associates to try to weaken the powers of the opposition parties that have just concluded their conventions. We are at alert as situation unfolds.”

    ANPP’s National Financial Secretary, Ahjia Fatimah Muhammed described President Goodluck Jonathan’s action as a means to destroy the opposition’s plan to takeover government in 2015.

    She said Jonathan has waited so long to declare State of emergency and why now, she asked.

    Her words: “It is a very bad development. In as much as we want peace to reign in the northern states, Jonathan’s action is not the solution. The security of all is the responsibility of the Federal Government but the president has wasted time to declare State of Emergency. Why now when the opposition parties had just concluded their conventions? There is more to this. He has pre-empted the work of the committees he inaugurated. State of Emergency will not solve the problem. He should have allowed the committee to work. He has taken a wrong step. The killing has been going on for more than two years and nothing was done. He has taken this step to destroy the merger process. And he will not succeed in this regard.”

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has thrown its weight behind the declaration of state of emergency in Borno and Yobe States.

    A statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metu yesterday said the party supports the president on “all actions that will restore stability, peace and progress in the body polity”.

    We commend him for showing effective leadership. You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs.

    “We are 100% behind the president’s action and we call on all responsible citizens to rally round the security officials of the nation at these trying times.

    With President Jonathan, Nigeria will overcome our security challenges”.

    National Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu yesterday insisted that State of Emergency is needful and that it is the only way to check the crisis in the affected area.

    “I want to say that President Goodluck Jonathan has done the best by declaring state of emergency in all those states where these mass killing has been very prevalent. I think Mr. President did not shy away from this responsibility and has not allowed people to misadvise him on this,” he said.

    National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Osita Okechukwu told The Nation that Jonathan’s action will not achieve the desired results. He said: “The action is too late and may not achieve the intendment. It is only critical planning, funding of the security agencies and strident war against corruption that will stem the insurgency.”