AS CPC, ANPP CLOSE SHOP: ANARCHY KNOCKS AT THE DOOR -BUHARI

The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) simultaneously held its own winding-up
convention in Gusau, Zamfara State. Both were following the footsteps of the
Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) that held its own convention on April 18 in
Lagos. 
Buhari said at the convention the patience of the nation and the various
communities within it has been severely tried and stretched to its limits and
that well meaning Nigerians must explore every opportunity to save the country.
“Anarchy is knocking on the door of many sections of this country and the
Federal Government has not demonstrated that it has the good sense to
understand what is going on, or the competence to check it. The nation is
hopelessly adrift. But, if we are to survive this vicious circle of violence
that has engulfed this nation must be brought to an end. And we implore the
National Assembly to take the lead in this quest for peace.
“This is a historic moment when several different political parties have
resolved to come together to change Nigeria for the better and stop the
mindless drift that has been going on for the last fourteen years. We must
understand and accept that we are here gathered to make history or forever
stand accused and condemned by it.
“The government has failed in almost everything. It has proved unable to secure
the nation’s internal environment: there is widespread and rising poverty and
unemployment across the length and breath of the country.

There is spiralling lawlessness all over the country. There is a complete and
total decline in the quality of social services and an irremediable
dilapidation in the nation’s socio-economic infrastructure across board.
“Many political analyst have long stated that the only way to stabilize the
country is for opposition parties to merge and oust the ruling PDP.”
Amidst chant of “Nigeria, say Buhari”, “Nigeria sai APC” he assured that once
the APC comes on board, the yearning and aspirations of Nigerians for good
governance would be achieved if it is voted into power.
This was followed by the delegates’ endorsement of the dual agenda of CPC
dissolution and merging into APC. 
The decision followed the adoption of a motion moved by a member of the Board
of Trustees (BOT) of the party, Alhaji Sule Yahaya Hamma which was seconded by
Chief Oskar Udoji.
Earlier on, a motion moved by Vice Presidential candidate of the party in the
2011 presidential election, Pastor Tunde Bakare calling for the dissolution of
the CPC received the nod of the delegates that thronged the national convention
of the party held at the Eagles square in Abuja.
National chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Chief Bisi Akande
who graced the occasion alongside some chieftains of the ANPP and Governor
Rochas Okorocha of Imo state (APGA), reiterated the desire by his party to
merge with other progressive forces with the aim of liberating Nigerians from
the shackles of poverty and deprivation.
“We have heard the Macedonian call of our people and we have set sail on an
irreversible course to contest and assume power at the centre. Our undying
quest to refocus and, possibly, to re-fix this massively endowed but hugely
debased country has made us to set aside our individual interests for a larger
national one. For every PDP’s years of the locust, we are offering, in
exchange, a new regime of prosperity, fiscal discipline, security and a more
emancipated society.
“For about a decade and a half, since the Peoples Democratic Party came to
power, the development of this country has been arrested and almost stalled.
Their strange institutionalized style of governance has engendered a general
sense of hopelessness, despondency and inertia among the citizenry. Since the
coming of this government in 2011, all we have seen are tales of woes, gnashing
of teeth and the crimsoning of our street with the blood of fellow citizens.
“Perhaps, aside the civil war period, the unity of this country has never been
as threatened as it is presently,” Akande said.
He added, “This coalition of progressively minded leaders represents a major
shift in Nigeria’s political paradigm. As leaders, and indeed, as political
parties, we are convinced, beyond any shadow of doubts, that Nigerians deserve
a better country. Nigerians deserve better leadership. We wave or hold no magic
wand but we signpost the fact that a new country and better leadership is
possible. What we are now offering is our commitment to changing the past ways
that have set us back through progressive thinking, sound and people oriented
policies, and dedicated leadership. Through sacrifice and renewed patriotic
zeal, we hope to unseat the current incompetent and corrupt leadership.
“I am convinced that this bold and historical step by ACN, ANPP and CPC to
merge into one formidable electoral machine against PDP, would serve as a major
antidote against the seeming total disintegration of Nigeria. The merger
process therefore affords us the singular strength of ensuring fraud free and
credible voters register by biometric evaluation and thereby democratically
dislodge the PDP from power with a view to bringing to end frequent incidences
of blood shedding and destruction to property which have become the defining
nature of the Jonathan’s administration.”
Former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Ahmed Sani Yarima of Zamfara who led
some leaders of the ANPP said there is a shared understanding of the task 
at hand and the new party will always remain together to achieve the dream of a
better Nigeria.
“The CPC convention is equally important and there is no going back. My
presence here only affirms our oneness as a party.”