My attention has been drawn to news in the media that I have been expelled by the caretaker committee of the All Nigeria Peoples Party and thus ipso facto been nullified from the list of candidates in the presidential primary of the party.
This news is shocking and a big surprise to me, and I am certain also to my teeming supporters within the ANPP and Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora. Up till now, I have not been officially informed of my purported expulsion from the party.
I have, within the last 10 days, contemplated on the rather unusual manner in which this announcement was made with no prior information given to me of any offences insinuated in the 'anti-party activities' rationale proffered for my expulsion and the fact that no opportunity whatsoever was provided to defend myself against this bizarre accusation.
This lack of due process made the whole exercise suspicious, wary and very disquieting.
Since the formation of the ANPP I have worked assiduously by using my intellectual and material resources to ensure harmony amongst all members. I have worked vigorously in ensuring that the party contributes positively to building bridges amongst the various segments of the Nigerian polity regardless of party affiliation. Hence I consider the latest development as the handiwork of the enemies of democracy and those who are averse to the ANPP making great strides in contributing to the nourishing of democracy in our great country.
I am therefore seizing this opportunity to assure my supporters, specifically within the ANPP, and all Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora that this latest development has not affected my drive to contest the 2003 presidential elections under the platform of our great party.
I have demanded in a letter I addressed to the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Party that those who started the unfounded rumors that led to this rather sad chapter in the history of the party be openly investigated. And that subsequent apology to my person should be made known to the Nigerian public through the same medium used, and by Admiral Augustus Aikhomu (rtd.) Chairman Board of Trustees, who announced the bizarre 'expulsion' in the first instance.
Let it hereby be known to all that my decision to be an active participant in the political life of Nigeria was borne out of genuine concern to assist in alleviating the sufferings of the majority of our people. Consequently, let the few, who are unhappy to see my face in the political landscape of Nigeria, note that I have committed myself to this worthy cause and are thus advised to get used to the fact that my image in the active political screen of the country and my cause have come to stay for a long time to come.
You can destroy a man politically but what about the cause for which he stands? This is the crux of the matter.
Nigeria belongs to all and no effort to abort the ambition of any Nigerian to contribute to the sustenance and growth of democracy should be allowed to take root in any registered political party in this 21st century. The ANPP, I am convinced, will act with the best counsel to resolve this unfortunate development soonest so that we can all march forward to making Nigeria great. The party must avoid the act of self destruction in the wake of the forthcoming general elections.
The party primary by our constitution will dictate the eventual flag bearer in the 2003 presidential elections and not an absurd, unfounded and ill-defined 'anti-party activities' announced to the world recently. I look forward to the party convention soonest when all the aspirants shall be given a level playing field to partake in the democratic process of choosing a presidential candidate for the party.
Long live the All Nigeria Peoples Party! Long live Nigeria!!
Signed:
Chief (Dr.) Harry Ayoade Akande
Presidential aspirant on the ticket of the ANPP
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