By Ebere Suzy Okoye
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) on friday warned politicians in the country to stop random cross-carpeting from one political party to the other in the interest of our internal democracy.
Anambra State chairman of CNPP, Hon. Kate Oby Okafor who sounded this note of warning yesterday at the state capital, Awka, during the inaugural ceremony of the newly elected executive members of the state chapter, said that CNPP would henceforth no longer condone the clandestine activities of party members who have no regard for our laws and their party manifestos.
Okafor who is also the state chairman of Advanced Congress of Democrats, ACD, further warned that such defectors should have a rethink as cross-carpeting to other political parties without justifiable circumstance that is compelling enough to warrant such a reckless defection had led to inter and intra party squabbles.
Insisting that such actions have amounted to rape of democratic principles, Okafor contended that there is no family that is devoid of misunderstanding, only that there shall be no resting place for political opportunists.
She commended Governor Peter Obi for providing enabling environment for some political parties in the state to win some council seats in the just concluded council elections in the state, which she noted was last conducted about 13 years ago, stressing that Obi did not only accommodate the interest of other parties in the said election, but also showed a sense of leadership and acceptance to other registered parties by inviting political parties to some important functions of the government.
She attributed the emergence of Obi as the leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and its Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT, as a reward for his years of hard work in improving party politics and our fledgling democracy.
Highlights of the occasion includes the swearing-in of the newly elected executive members of the state chapter of CNPP, as well as paying of a courtesy call on Governor Obi at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia.
The swearing-in ceremony was jointly performed by the National Leader of CNPP and former Governor of Kaduna State during the second republic, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the Secretary-General of CNPP, Eze Willy Ezugwu.
Among those sworn-in were the state chairman, Kate Okafor from ACD, vice chairman, Evans Sam Anidike from Mega Peoples Progressive Party, MPPP and Secretary, Sir Peter Okala of the National Conscience Party, NCP.
Others were Comrade Sam Anumba from ACPN, Assistant Secretary; Dr. Patrick Dim from SDP, Treasurer; Chief Amechi Obidike from APC, Financial Secretary; Chief Chetanna Udoka from ADC, Publicity Secretary and Aaron Igweze from AD, Assistance Publicity Secretary, among others.
During the courtesy call, Musa commended Obi for placing Anambra State in a steady path of progress and development and urged him not to relent until his final handover date.
Responding, Governor Obi applauded Musa for remaining consistent with pursuing the course he believes in, adding that coming together of all the political parties, under the CNPP is essential to the development of democracy and to check some inflammatory statement of some parties that tend to create crisis and anarchy and cause ethnic misunderstanding.
