The All Nigeria Peoples Congress (ANPP) on Monday inaugurated a 22 member National convention committee chaired by the Zamfara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari.
The convention which is scheduled for May 11 in Gusau, Zamfara state will formally ratify the endorsement of the ANPP in the merger of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Already, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had last week at its national convention approved of the merger while the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is set to hold its convention for same purpose on May 11.
This comes as the National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Congress (ANPP) Ogbonnaya Onu warned that with the emergence of the APC merger, those in government today, should prepare their minds to be in opposition tomorrow.
Onu noted this yesterday while inaugurating the party’s National Convention Committee
Other members include; and Hon. Emma Eneukwu, the National Publicity Secretary will serve as Secretary, Sen. Alkali Jajere, Sen. Atai Idoko, Ali Usman, Hon. Suleiman Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, Hon Mohammed T Monguno, Sen. Mohammed Mohammed, Hon. Paul Chukwuma, Hon. Adewale Olatunji, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, Alh. AbduWahab Femi.
Include also are Hajiya Hassana Abdullahi, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed, Chief Mrs. Opeyemi Abimbola, Alh. Kabir Umar, Alh. Abdullahi Maibodinga, Chief Dr. George N. Moghalu Dr. Vitalis Ajumbe, Chief Livinus Agala-Opuakpa, Mr. Martins Bisong, Hon. Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa and H.E. Alh. Adamu S. Dibal.
Onu boasted that with the success of the merger the way politics is played in the country would change for ever. He also decried the state of the country saying it was in distress.
He said “today is historic, because this is the first time in the long history of our country that opposition political parties which control government at the State level have come together in order to form a single new political Party. This has never happened before in our country and also in many other countries of the world. By this merger, which by the special grace of God will be completed before too long, the individual participating political parties will lose their individual identities to be submerged into the All Progressives Congress, APC. This is definitely in the best interest of the development of democracy, the happiness of our people and the greatness of our nation.
“Today’s ceremony is about what we do today for a tomorrow that will guarantee happiness for all. It is about how we organize ourselves so that our great Party can play the role history demands of it in the challenge of returning power to our people. It is about going a step further to show our fellow country men and women that we mean what we say that the ANPP strongly believes in the merger of opposition political parties for the benefit of all. It is about reaffirming our faith in the greatness of our beloved country, as well as the power of democracy as an important instrument of good governance and development, that will long endure.
“Distinguished leaders of our great Party, in this important task that you have been chosen to perform for our great Party, I am confident that you will succeed. You represent the best that we have. You must gallantly rise to this special call for service in order to build a stronger democracy that will defeat the forces of darkness in our cherished fatherland.
“You must utilise the opportunity which your membership of this Committee demands for us to show that our great Party believes in the union of progressives that is being forged for the common good. You must work in unity as one body of honourable men and women, devoted to the happiness of our people and the greatness of our country. Above all, you must focus on the future, for it should be backward never but forward ever”
He continued “our country is in great distress. Wherever we look, we see problems and problems. We live in darkness. People feel insecure. Our schools and hospitals are not working as they should.
Unemployment and poverty have crippled the dreams and ambition of many Nigerians. Hope for a bright future has continued to fade for many people, day after day.
Things cannot continue this way. There must be a change for the better. The time to effect that change, is now.
“The common people, the masses of our nation yearn for change. They know that this change can only come when votes count and the voter matters. They know that this can only be realised when there is effective competition in the political arena. They know that major opposition political parties need to come together as a single political party so that politics in our country can be played with two strong political parties. When this happens, no one can easily pre-determine which of the two political parties can continuously win a general election.”
The Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abdulazeez Abubakar Yari, assured that the committee would do all they can to ensure that the convention succeeds.
He underscored the importance of the proposed merger noting that it is in the interest of all the opposition parties in the country.