Nigeria Content Online

The National
Chairman of All Nigerian Peoples Party(ANPP), Ogbonnaya Onu yesterday
expressed concern over the insecurity of lives and property across the
country.The former governor of Abia State also said ‘‘more worrisome is
the increasing spate of assassinations of innocent citizens across the
country’’.

Fielding questions
from newsmen in Umuahia during a one-day sensitization visit to Abia
State, Mr Onu said, “ all Nigerians are worried. Security is very
important,the ANPP is worried, we have been victims living in a very
unsecured environment. We have lost our National Vice Chairman, North
East who was assassinated and he died in cold blood in his own house
and those who went there removed nothing except his life.” He said “we
are extremely worried that people no longer go to bed with their two
eyes closed because of the fear of armed robbers and of late,
kidnapping and what is worrying us is that the situation is getting
even worse”.

Vibrant opposition

On the growing fear
that the country might be heading towards a one party state, the ANPP
leader said democracy would not strive without a vibrant opposition.

“So,we do not
believe, and I know that it is unacceptable to most Nigerians,if not
all Nigerians ,that we should have one party rule,” he said. “The ANPP
believes that there ought to be competition in the political arena. We
are convinced that once there is competition in the political arena,
that Nigeria will develop at a very fast pace. The problem we have
today will not be there.” He said the party was not formed to serve as
an opposition party because it believes it can win power through the
vote of the people to form a government at all levels.

Giving insight into
the procedure the party would adopt in selection of its candidates for
the 2011 election, Onu said, “we will not interfere with the people in
terms of choosing who is to represent them. We are leaving the
situation to internal democracy”.