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Lagos
Our party continues to confront the challenges it has to face as the most viable platform for a peaceful change of political leadership in Nigeria come 2003. Last Saturday, July 27 at Abuja, our teeming supporters and members thronged the venue of the convention with high hopes and determination to position the All Nigeria Peoples Party for next year’s elections. There were a lot of expectations and hopes, following what was a clearly well planned convention programme. However, in the true spirit of the rule of law, the convention had to be aborted as some court injunctions had been secured against the continuation of the meeting. Much as this seemed like an anti climax to what was a first class convention organisation, I want to implore all our members, supporters, well wishers in the party and all Nigerians that there is a bright silver lining behind what looked like a downturn last weekend. Our party remains strong and aware of its onerous role in restoring hope to the people of Nigeria. Hard as it looks, the occurrence is a call to all our members to gird their loins further. Tough times, as they say, never last, but tough people do. I want to call on all party leaders at the federal, state, local and ward levels not to be discouraged. ANPP takes a credit for obeying the law of the land, and that act of righteousness even if at a peril, will later become a great enhancement of the good name of our party. As the chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, I am continuously looking out for the larger interests of the party in all of this. And I am presently reviewing the options open to the board in an effort to rekindle the party machinery and the enthusiasm of our members and supporters. Before too long, a new date would be agreed upon for the party to hold its convention so that the party can have enough time for electioneering campaigns next year. Lastly, let me use this opportunity to thank Governor Mohammed Lawal and all the members of the convention committee for a job well done. They have succeeded in putting together what is perhaps the largest convention crowd in our country’s contemporary political history. Moreover, the large crowd was generally peaceful, joyous, dancing and singing. It was a well-behaved gathering and a crowd that was well comported. Even in the face of disappointment, the crowd took it gallantly and left the venue peacefully. Such an attitude is an elixir to the notion some of us have been calling for, a new Nigerian political setting that is matured and mellowed. Such an attitude has rekindled my hope in the possibility of a successful conduct of peaceful elections in 2003. I also commend all party leaders, members and supporters who turned out last Saturday at Abuja and want to assure them that together we will charge forward and overcome the obstacles. There have been talks of certain orchestrations to derail our party and neutralise its influence and capability in the 2003 elections. But if those claims are true, I want to guarantee all our members and indeed all the good people of this country that those who may wish to torpedo the ANPP would fail. Nigeria deserves a vibrant multiparty system and Nigeria will get a vibrant multiparty system. I urge all the leaders and those who aspire to leadership positions in our party to rededicate themselves to the attainment of party objectives and to resolve to remain truly loyal to the party at all times. ANPP is the party to watch in today’s Nigeria and we can still make ANPP the party to beat. Thank you and God bless all Nigerians.
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