NEWS RELEASE
The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] National Chairman, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, last weekend received the Certificate of Incorporation of the ANPP, United States of America Chapter, in Newark, New Jersey, presented to him by the Chapter’s Protem Chairman, Chief Mike Okey Amuzie.
While speaking at the occasion, Dr Onu revealed that based on findings arising from contacts made and visits to some States, it was clear that many Nigerians resident in the USA are interested in joining the ANPP, and then charged the ANPP USA Chapter to continue to work hard until the ANPP becomes a household name among Nigerians resident in the USA.
His said, ‘‘I am particularly happy to be physically present in this historic City of Newark in New Jersey, United States of America to personally receive a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of our great Party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the USA. On behalf of all members of our great Party, I congratulate you for this achievement and urge you to work hard until the ANPP becomes a household name among Nigerians resident in the USA. I also commend you for acquiring an office premises for the Party.
‘‘I am confident that if you continue to work as hard as you have done, you will be able to build a very strong chapter of the Party in the USA. Based on findings arising from contacts made and visits to some States undertaken by me, it is clear that many Nigerians resident in the USA are interested in joining our great Party. You should open your doors wide to bring in men and women of character and integrity to help us build a great Party. You should also look out for those who left the Party and urge them to return to their political home.’’
Dr Onu also assured the ANPP party men and women in the USA that the party is now in ongoing talks with other opposition parties in a bid to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], while the new ANPP is also spearheading a shift from politics of personality to issue-based and ideas-driven politics in the country.
His words; ‘‘The ANPP is a great Party. We were born with great expectations. We have had our problems, but by the grace of God we are on our way to recovery and growth. We will not rest until the ANPP is turned around and working with other opposition political parties is able to form government at the Center for the good of our people and the greatness of our nation.
‘‘For too long, the politics in our country has been based on the politics of personality. This has unfortunately emphasized the things that divide us instead of the many and noble things that unite us. This regrettably has introduced instability, disunity, intolerance, chaos and disorder. The ANPP does not support this. We want politics to be issue-based and ideas- driven such that Nigerians will once more be one people in one nation under God.
‘‘Our great Party believes in a stable, united, peaceful and prosperous country. We do not support violence in any form. We want all Nigerians to be below the law such that no Nigerian can be above the law. We believe that no Nigerian home should have anyone who is unable to read or write. We believe that the primary responsibility of government is to provide security for its citizens such that Nigerians should be able to go to bed with theirs eyes closed.
‘‘We believe that the greatness of our nation should be measured by how well we look after the weak, the disadvantaged and the poor among us. We believe that justice breeds peace and peace breeds prosperity. We believe that government ought to concern itself with the provision of the necessary conducive environment needed for all Nigerians to exploit their talents and potentials to the fullest.
‘‘Our great Party is fully aware that the Nigerian public will not take us seriously if we criticize the ruling party in the morning, only to go ahead in the afternoon to do the same thing we consider improper. Hence in our primaries and conventions we have been fair and just allowing our Party Constitution to remain supreme. Those who have been allowed to fly the flag of the Party in the various elections have been the choice of members of the Party. This explains why intra Party conflicts and cases in court involving our members have been reduced to the barest minimum.’’
The one-time Presidential aspirant and former Executive Governor of the old Abia State recognized that the root of Nigeria’s political problems is inability to conduct truly free and fair elections, as he also expressed his optimism that the country’s current myriads of problems is surmountable when Nigerians, both home and abroad, come together to work for the common good while not wavering in a belief in the integrity of the country and not losing respect for each other.
‘‘ I urge you, in your membership mobilization exercise, to encourage all Nigerians resident in the USA who are interested in contesting elections in Nigeria and would want free and fair primaries devoid of manipulation, to join the ANPP. We are interested in instituting internal democracy in our Party as a way to reassure Nigerians that our Party is ready to run government efficiently at the federal level, afterwards you can only give what you have. We know that our inability as a nation to conduct truly free and fair elections is at the root of many of our problems. When we are able to fix our political problems, we will then be able to fix many of the other problems that confront us as a nation.
‘‘For our country to realize her full potentials and win the admiration and respect of other nations, Nigerians living both at home and abroad must come together, think together and work together for the common good. No matter how bad the conditions at home may be, those of you resident abroad should continue to believe in our country. There is no problem which our dear country has, that we as Nigerians working together cannot solve. We should also never forget that in the end it is all of us, Nigerians that can truly solve the problems of our country. Let us all believe in our country, because no matter how dark things may appear today, once we can do the right thing the brightness of tomorrow will certainly shine. The Protem Chairman, Chief Mike Okey Amuzie, should not relent. We wish him and his team God’s continued blessings.’’
Signed
Hon Emma Eneukwu
National Publicity Secretary
ANPP
