The Northern Political Leaders Forum on Tuesday descended on opposition political parties in the country, saying they had failed to “occupy the moral high ground and to provide a viable alternative to the ruling party at this critical hour when Nigerians are sick and tired of more of the same.”



The NPLF said, in a communiqué after its meeting in Abuja, that it took a comprehensive look at the nation’s political landscape, especially the recent primary elections, and concluded that the opposition parties had not learnt from history.



“Only a viable opposition will arrest the nation’s political drift to a one-party state. Opposition parties must hold themselves responsible if they fail to play their proper role in a democracy,” the group that organised the emergence of the Northern consensus candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential primaries said.



The NPLF communiqué was signed by its Chairman, Mallam Adamu Ciroma.



However, the group also lashed at the ruling PDP, accusing it of lacking internal democracy.



On the PDP, it said, “Where a semblance of election was held, there was substitution of bona fide winners with losers or total strangers. This practice continued to the very last hour allowed by INEC.”



It condemned the party for its total disregard of its constitution and the law governing elections in what it described as “a desperate bid to maintain the status quo.”



It added that there was “excessive corruption and financial inducement leading to the outright purchase of delegates, the naked display of wealth by public officers and their spouses and their open misuse of resources largely belonging to the public.”



In their reactions on Tuesday, the Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party, Labour Party and Congress for Political Change dismissed the NPLF charge, saying the group was wrongly appraising them based on the happenings within the PDP.



The ACN, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said it was happy that the NPLF singled out the PDP for an “unprecedented onslaught on our democratic institutions,” submitting that it (ACN) remained the political party with a track record of internal democracy.



It said, “Despite the orchestrated and syndicated campaign of calumny against the ACN by paid agents of the ruling party and some misinformed and misguided members of the public, our party still remains by far and large the political party with the most enviable track record of internal democracy as now confirmed by the statement of the NPLF.



“Unlike the Peoples Democratic Party, the ACN cannot be accused either of blatant misuse of public office to intimidate, harass, and deny perceived opponents of their liberty and democratic rights or of excessive corruption and financial inducements. These are all patented rights of the PDP.”



Chairman of Labour Party, Chief Dan Nwayanwu, said there was no need to respond to the Ciroma-led group because the group did not have anything to teach Nigerians in terms of patriotism.



He said, “These are persons who became ministers and Federal Government appointees in their 20s and 30s and continued living on Federal Government patronage until when they were almost 70 years. Yet they have nothing to show for it in term of development in the country.



“The opposition parties as represented by young elements have nothing to learn from them.”



Also the National Publicity Secretary of All Nigerian Peoples Party, Chief Emma Eneukwu, described the statement credited to Ciroma as unfortunate.



He said it was wrong for the former minister to use what happened in the PDP as a bench mark for all other political parties.



Eneukwu added that the “whole world” saw how the party (ANPP) conducted its presidential primaries, which he said was acceptable to all those who contested.



The Congress for Political Change said the opposition parties had tried their best considering the limitations they faced.



CPC’s Publicity Secretary, Geidam Almajiri, said although the Northern Political leaders Forum was entitled to its opinion, it was out of place for anyone to make such statements.



He said, “The opposition political parties face a lot of limitations in terms of resources to do what they want to do, in terms of getting quality people to associate with them.



“Opposition parties are fragile, they don’t have much capacity. It’s not easy to form a political party and task yourself to make it competitive. I in think the CPC we are trying our best.”



Efforts to get the reaction of the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, did not succeed as calls made to his mobile phone indicated that it was switched off.






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201102163491537

Johnathan’s emergence as Nigeria’s President and eventual nomination as PDP gay bearer in the 2011 presidential election is a proof that God is still ruling over the affairs of men. Imagine the calibers of men who were working against his aspiration, who are now teaming up in his support. Even the North that laid claim to the Presidency are now routing for the man God has chosen to lead the nation. God is indeed interested in the affairs of this country. We should fear God.

wales:

Johnathan’s emergence as Nigeria’s President and eventual nomination as PDP gay bearer in the 2011 presidential election is a proof that God is still ruling over the affairs of men. Imagine the calibers of men who were working against his aspiration, who are now teaming up in his support. Even the North that laid claim to the Presidency are now routing for the man God has chosen to lead the nation. God is indeed interested in the affairs of this country. We should fear God.

I hate when people get so gullible by attributing one's successes to the will of God. How can you infer that a weak leader surrounded by corrupt sycophants is God's will? As far as I'm concerned you use the name of God to suit your political views and to my understanding of God, that's an offensive sin.

@ blazing99, there is nothing that is not God's doing. But Nigerians shldn't forget that if God wants gej to be president for the next 4yrs, nothing can stop it. Gej is operating in his destiny's rail

wales:

Johnathan’s emergence as Nigeria’s President and eventual nomination as PDP gay bearer in the 2011 presidential election is a proof that God is still ruling over the affairs of men. Imagine the calibers of men who were working against his aspiration, who are now teaming up in his support. Even the North that laid claim to the Presidency are now routing for the man God has chosen to lead the nation. God is indeed interested in the affairs of this country. We should fear God.

You are unwell.

Every thing that happens have the will of God.its just that we have to braze up to the challenges.the nplf failed to coerce us and have lost relevance. i hope that these people will stop living on Nigeria cos the have only benefited from Nigeria and want to play boss on us

Exactly, some nplf members has benefited imensely from nigeria nay pdp now leaving to be if not octagenerians wants to spoil nigeria for us. God is supreme and directs the affairs of men

@ Nsiman, because God permits sumting doesnt mean He wills it. I really marvel on your level of spirituality. So you mean say if you fall enter gutter, na the will of God?

As far as I'm concerned, God doesn't will corruption, incompetency, impulsive decisions, poor coordination, etc which are all features of GEJ.

@wales
lo ku sinu igbo. arindin

And who are these toothless dogs to call out any of the opposition parties?

They need to look in the mirror if they are looking for failure.

wales:

Johnathan’s emergence as Nigeria’s President and eventual nomination as PDP gay bearer in the 2011 presidential election[b] is a proof that God is still ruling over the affairs of men[/b]. Imagine the calibers of men who were working against his aspiration, who are now teaming up in his support. Even the North that laid claim to the Presidency are now routing for the man God has chosen to lead the natio[/b]n.[b] God is indeed interested in the affairs of this country. We should fear God.

***shudders***

@ blazing99, now u mentioned gej's incompetence, which of the area is he incompetent? Remember this is democracy that has bureucracy

@ Nsiman
Poor handling of Jos crisis. This man met this scenario in office and may leave office with this issue still haunting.
Corruption still thriving
Please refer also to Danuma's report
http://allafrica.com/stories/201101210808.html
Dats all i can state for now, have to get back to work

Jos crisis didn't start from gej's admin, rather from the last years of the 20th century, obj met it, the late yar'adua met it. It will only take the gov'nor and the monarchs of the affected communities to avert this. Take for instance, in akwa ibom state, the gov'nor has put it straight to the traditional rulers that if they shields, accomodates kidnappers and the like, they will be held responsible and the T.R are living up to duty, so gej or any other president can't stay in Abuja and knw what is to happen in ur community or neighborhood except there's a tip-off from the community concern. In corruption, i bet u that no govt will prosecute past corrupt leaders because this pple make up the national council of states