ANPP NEC MEETING: Challenging expectations from a fractured fold

BY DAPO AKINREFON

FOR the All Nigerian Peoples’ Party, ANPP, these certainly are not the best of times.

The once vibrant political party has continually been enmeshed in internal crisis following defections to rival parties andememergence of factions in the party.

Already, its former National Vice Chairman, Mr. Asukewe Ikoawaji, is spoiling to oust the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, and National Secretary, Alhaji Lawan Shettima Ali, from office.

Aside this, the current activities of the Boko Haram sect in Borno State, which is controlled by the ANPP, is not giving the party a good name as Nigerians across board are miffed by how the  party is handling the issue.

The activities of Boko Haram are seen as a thorn in the flesh of the state.

However, in an effort to address the multifarious crises rocking it, the party will today hold an emergency National Executive Council, NEC.

In an advertorial signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Hon. Emma Eneukwu said the NEC meeting would assist the party leadership redress the lingering crises.

Sources told Vanguard that at the meeting  the party hierarchy might  work on a new manifesto by updating its former manifesto to bring it in line with current aspirations.

A source further hinted that the party might discuss the recent defection of its former gubernatorial flagbearer in Kogi State, Prince Audu Abubakar and seek ways of ensuring that the party has an edge during the 2012 elections in the state.

Among other things, the NEC meeting of the ANPP, which coincides with that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is expected to seek a lasting solution to the activities of the Boko Haram sect.

The sect has continually terrorized Borno State, which is controlled by the ANPP among other states including the Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

Also, the continued occupation of the Joint Military Task Force in the state is expected to be top on the agenda of the NEC meeting.

Leadership of the party has frowned at the JTF operation in the state and had even called for the soldiers’ withdrawal.

On his part, the National Chairman of the party, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu  recently declared that the party would strive to steer the country’s politics away from the divisive tendencies of ethnicity, religion, geographical interests and to get politicians to focus on idealism and good governance virtues ahead of the 2015 elections.

Beyond the views expressed by the ANPP chairman, observers of political events are not disposed to the opposition role of the party, a development that led to its lampooning.

As ANPP hold its NEC meeting, it is expected that the party re-strategises on moving the party and ensuring that it resolves the internal crisis rocking it.