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The All Nigeria
Peoples Party (ANPP) and the National Conscience Party (NCP), on
Wednesday, moved to galvanize the other opposition groups to oust the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party from power during the forthcoming
general elections.

At the national
headquarters of the ANPP in Abuja, the national leadership of both
parties agreed that the 11 years of PDP rule have brought hardship on
Nigerians and that unless the opposition come together and capitalize
on the transparent electoral process being worked out by the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the ruling party will
continue in power. Femi Falana, who led the NCP delegation, said as the
largest opposition party, the ANPP has failed the nation. According to
him, while it was vibrant, it, alongside the Alliance for Democracy,
won many states in the north and the south.

Mr Falana regretted
that the ANPP allowed itself to be infiltrated by “undemocratic
elements that succeeded in weakening it for the ruling party to thrive
in bastardizing the nation’s economy.” He urged the party faithful to
rejoice at the emergence of Ogbonnaya Onu as their new chairman, noting
that it was because of his personality that made the NCP to seek to
work with the largest opposition party and other progressive groups in
the country. He urged the ANPP and other political parties not to allow
the proposed Electoral Act amendment sent by Goodluck Jonathan to scale
through at the National Assembly, warning that if it does, political
parties will suffer the cause.

“I am also speaking
for other progressive parties in Nigeria who are desirous to work with
the people of the ANPP so that we can together terminate 12 years of
misrule that this country has gone through,” he added.

Falana-Onu partnership

The Public Order
Act, which the Police has been capitalizing on to stop lawful rallies,
according to Mr Falana, has since by repealed by the court and wondered
where the force derived its power to abort rallies.

“In Ghana, the
police can’t stop any one or group from congregating for whatever
purpose,” he said. The police would have to go to court to get
permission to stop any meeting. Its only in Nigeria that the police
will seat in their office asking you to come and obtain a permit to
exercise your right. This must stop, why should anybody’s campaign be
stopped?” Mr Onu, who expressed joy at the visit of the NCP leadership,
said that the ANPP has taken up the challenge and would work with
others to ensure the PDP from power.

“We will ensure
that we dislodge all those who have visited out youth with
unemployment, violence on our innocent people, kidnapping on innocent
citizen and poverty on the masses,” he said. “I believe strongly that
it is time for the opposition to prove a point and provide an
alternative which Nigerians are yearning for.” He praised Mr Falana for
being a dogged fighter and a promoted of democracy and good governance,
adding that but for his efforts, many truths would have been buried in
the country.

Mr Onu also said
that the ANPP will soon confer on the NCP chieftain a special honour
for his efforts at working to strengthen opposition in Nigeria.

Angolan opposition

Meanwhile, the
leader of Opposition in Angola, Anthonio Roberto Neto, visited the ANPP
leadership yesterday at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Neto told the
party members led by Mr Onu that he was in Nigeria to “share views,
ideas and knowledge with the ANPP leadership as the largest opposition
party in Nigeria just his party, Democratic Party of Angola.” He said
he had suffered injustices including incarceration in the hands of his
home government. Mr Neto said his visit would also afford him
opportunity to see how the opposition parties in Nigeria relate with
INEC, adding that he will still contest the presidency of Angolain 2012
elections.

According to him, his experience in Nigeria will guide him in his electoral campaign.

Mr Onu thanked the visitor and stressed the need for oppositions
across the continent to work together to bring about good governance in
African countries.