- Says Atiku’s proposal patriotic
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has it was open to merger with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or the Labour Party (LP), in order to checkmate the excesses of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
NNPP acting National Chairman, Abba Kawu Ali, at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, described the merger proposal of the former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as ‘patriotic.’
He said: “Just recently, former Vice- President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was reported to have called for a merger of opposition parties as a way of checkmating the inordinate drive of the ruling APC towards a one-party state and protecting our hard-earned democracy.
“The NNPP sees this call from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as patriotic and a welcome development for which we unreservedly commend him.
“The NNPP, however, has modifications to that collaboration being proposed by Alh. Atiku Abubakar.
“It is our belief that such an arrangement should be all-encompassing and broad.
“To the former Vice President’s call, our party notes that this was the same bold initiative which the opposition parties signed up to in 2015 and which enabled the merger that led to the defeat of the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“To that extent, the NNPP is reiterating its position that the former Vice President’s latest call is a proposal we applaud wholeheartedly.
“However, as we stated earlier, while we fully embrace this initiative and applaud it as a matter of necessity, the NNPP is looking at this issue from a much larger perspective and considering all factors inherent in it.
“Our party, without any iota of doubt, is open to collaboration, alliance and any arrangement with any of or all the political parties including PDP, Labour Party, and APC, so long as such collaboration, alliance or arrangement will be in the utmost interest of the Nigerian people and the protection and consolidation of Nigeria’s democracy.
“At the moment, we are studying the mood of the country and the political atmosphere.
“NNPP will welcome from any political party any initiative and oblige any invitation towards discussing any arrangement, aimed at protecting our people, our democracy and towards the much desired accelerated and sustainable development of our country.
“Thankfully, the whole country is not unmindful of the populist profile of the NNPP which draws its strength from our well -thought out Constitution and Manifesto as well as a robust Kwakwasiyya Movement dedicated to the emancipation of the common man.”
Meanwhile, Ali, expressed optimism that the Supreme Court would restore its fragile mandate in the Kano State governorship election tussle.
“After winning fairly the Kano State 2023 Governorship election like in 2019, today, we look up to the Supreme Court to uphold our hard earned victory at the polls.
“Two of the same injustice will be too much of a pain to bear. In addition, the NNPP won 2 Senatorial seats, 19 Federal House of Representatives seats and over 30 State Assembly seats across the country within the short period of its new nomenclature.
“Despite sponsored crisis and challenges, we are confident that the NNPP will continue to provide the necessary alternative in our political space.
“This we will do without prejudice to us joining forces with all other interested parties and like minds towards peace, security, progress, development and protection of our democracy and the overall interests of our country.
“NNPP believes in the unity of political parties and politicians, a necessary ingredient for peace, tranquillity and development.
“We are therefore calling on politicians in the country to eschew divisiveness, bitterness and rancour in the interest of our people.
“We believe in the rule of law and that’s why we always run to the judiciary for succour.
“Our faith in the judiciary remains unshaken despite some happenings within a section of the bench.
“We are therefore using this medium to call on the judiciary to live up to its billing by delivering justice at all times.
“Like Kano State, we are in the Court to claim the mandate given to our Taraba State Governorship Candidate in the March 18 Election, Prof. Yahaya Sani to whom the majority of the voters in Taraba gave their votes.
“We hope justice will be served to NNPP and the people of Kano State as well as Taraba State as we put a close to the 2023 General Elections,” he said.