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The national chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP),
Ogbonnaya Onu, said on Tuesday that the nation’s multiparty democracy is in
danger because of the empty promises often made by the members of the ruling
Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking, while inaugurating a six-member national contact
committee to reconcile with aggrieved members of the party, the ANPP chairman
said under the three PDP administrations since 1999, Nigerians suffered
insecurity, unprecedented unemployment and bad governance, adding that time had
come for hope to be restored to them.

Members of the contact committee are Gambo Magaji (chairman),
Ibrahim Hasasan, Yusuf Musa, Admiral Amusu, John Odigie-Oyegun and Livinus
Nwambe.

“Our multiparty democracy is in danger, Mr Onu said. “It is in
danger because, day after day, our brothers and sisters on the other side make
promises they seldom keep, yet they boast of their strength and connections to
win elections at all cost. It is in danger because unless the opposition, which
we lead, unite with the majority of Nigerians, victory will be certain for
those who do not and cannot win elections.

“We’ve placed some hope in the committee. It will prepare the
road map to our recovery because the last 12 years of the PDP government have
been 12 years of insecurity; 12 years of darkness, of darkness in our houses;
where anybody who is really sick must go outside the country; where our
children go to Ghana for education; 12 years of unemployment; and many
Nigerians are losing hope.” Mr Onu who emerged as ANPP chairman about two weeks
ago, said that the party cannot afford to fail, warning that if it does, the
country would be in trouble.

He stated that party is hungry to win elections for the sake of
democracy and for the sake of Nigerians, assuring that it would provide
credible leadership for them. “We have no choice if the government of the
people, for the people and by the people, is not to perish in our fatherland.
It is by doing that we can mobilize other like minds in the struggle to reclaim
Nigeria and return her to the path of political plurality and national
renewal,” Mr Onu said, adding that the party would be there for mechanics,
students and other categories of Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic
groups.

He said the leadership carefully chose the members of the
contact committee and asked them to tour the country with a view to bringing
back those who left the party under any guise, including the founding fathers.

New friends

He also tasked them to help the party make new friends with
other political parties, the civil society, professional bodies and interest
groups to enable it build a strong and resilient coalition to defeat one-party
rule.

“Fellow party men and women, this is a call to duty,” Mr Onu
said. “Our great party requires, once more, your time; your energy; your
intellect; and more importantly, your commitment. We know you will succeed. Let
no part of this country be too far for you to visit. Let no road be too bad for
you to use. Let no bridge be too long for you not to cross. I am sure that the
night will not be too dark for you to operate.”

Mr Magaji assured that the committee would go round the country and bring
back party faithfuls who left, as well as those sitting on the fence. He,
however, noted that its task is not simple “because a lot of water has gone
under the bridge. Some left out of frustration and felt that they were not
wanted.”