By Asiwaju Shittu
One of the wonders and talking points that the last general election threw up is the emerging threat of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the continued dominance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of the nation’s polity.
Out of the blues came an hitherto unknown party which eventually made wave by giving the APC the run for it’s money in Kano State.
Though, the NNPP ended up winning the governorship of the all important Kano State, it’s impact as a viable opposition is still being felt by the APC.
Added to that, it won seats in the National and state assemblies though stamping it’s authority as a platform to reckon with in the country’s political space
Despite this resounding success, which many pundits have argued that the leadership of the party should work on consolidating on the achievements that were made, many gladiators within are working at cross purposes with the leadership in that direction.
Rather than bringing all hands to be on deck for the progress of the party, some supposed members have become a clog in the wheel of the progressive march.
I am referring to the now suspended former Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam and his co-travellers such as Mr. Agbo Major and their ilk.
These fellows have been moving around from pillar to posts telling whoever cares to listen to them that they founded the party and that it (the party) was hijacked from them by the Kwankwassiyya Movement.
In laying foundation for their claims, they have employed falsehood, half truths and propaganda to hoodwink the unsuspecting public.
For those of us in the know, the Constitution which is the nation’s ground norm does not not allow for personal ownership of any party, rather it states that parties are formed by individuals who are like minds coming together.
I’m not even sure that the electoral umpire, INEC would have registered the NNPP if Dr. Aniebonam alone had come forward as the sole member.
What is on record is that until the coming of Kwankwassiyya Movement and Alliance National Party head by myself (Asiwaju Shittu) into the NNPP, nothing was known of the party.
There was no functional offices across the states and the supposed national headquarters was a room apartment with table and a chair in the outskirt of the FCT. It’s was the headquarters of Alliance National Party (ANP) that was donated to NNPP as part of it’s contribution to the alliance.
The structure that the party has on ground now was put in place by the political wizardry and ingenuity of the Kwankwassiyya Movement led by the able leader, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Also, another big lies being peddle by this disgruntled elements is the chairmanships of Major Agbo. There was never a time Agbo was chairman but secretary while Aniebonam was my colleague chairmen at several INEC meetings in Abuja.
I’m very sure that the real reason for the hostility being displayed by Aniebonam and his group is the deliberate refusal of the new comer to allow them to trade with the party at every election cycle.
To the chagrin of these elements, the pace, the tenacity and the resolve of the Kwankwassiyya Movement to make the NNPP a winning machine and not a meal ticket is something they are trying to grapple with.
