Leadership (Abuja)
Stanley Yakubu
4 May 2008
In less than a year of its formation, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's government of national unity (GNU), in which the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) is a major participant, is set to crumble. The ANPP is meeting on Wednesday to take a decisive position on the matter.
Topmost on a five-point agenda scheduled for discussion at the National Executive Committee meeting of the hitherto main opposition party is a re-examination and probably pulling out of the GNU.
A dependable source at national secretariat of the party (name withheld) told LEADERSHIP Sunday last night that the Edwin Ume-Ezeoke-led National Executive of the party is in a state of despair and on the verge of losing its patience over the failure of President Yar'Adua to meet all the demands o f the ANPP, which was a pre-condition for the party to go into the alliance.
The emergency meeting earlier scheduled to take place in Abuja on Wednesday but has now been moved to Damaturu, Yobe State, according to the source, will critically examine, among other fundamental issues, its initial participation in the GNU as most of its expectations in terms of appointment, especially that of special advisers and chairmen and members of boards of parastatals, have not been met.
"Could you believe that one year after joining the GNU, nothing substantial came our way as dividends of democracy except two miserable ministerial and ambassadorial positions which have no direct bearing on the condition of our living and growth of democracy in the country?" the source asked.
There have been speculations in the media that besides the national secretary of the party, Senator Saidu Umar Kumo, there are other senior officials of the party and their relations who have been angling for the positions of presidential advisers in the GNU, but are today said to be frustrated and angry with the PDP government.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that President Yar'Adua is not happy that the national leadership of the ANPP failed to convince its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, to withdraw his case at both the Appeal Court and now Supreme Court, and sees Ume-Ezeoke and Kumo as liabilities and inconsequential leaders whose political value cannot be ascertained.
A source close to the seat of government told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the PDP government is not in a hurry to meet the demands of the ANPP as most of the CVs sent for the special advisers and chairmen of boards slots are grossly shallow, with no tangible political or administrative experience with which to advise the president on any issue.
When contacted, Senator Kumo stated that the ANPP is not happy that Yar'Adua did not fulfil his own part of the deal after promising to give the party many positions in his government. He said: "We have discovered that the whole arrangement is fraudulent as there is no seriousness on the part of PDP and Yar'Adua on our agreement and we are left with no alternative than to re-examine our position on the GNU."
Reacting to the report that the ANPP plans to move out of the GNU so soon, the director-general of the Buhari Organisation, Alhaji Buba Galadima, said: "We are not surprised. We knew the marriage would not last after all because one of the parties entered the alliance because they were hungry. They are now disappointed and frustrated. So, we are not surprised at all that they are leaving. That will serve as a lesson to them."
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It serves them right!. It very obvious that the main reason they went into the alliance is for personal gain. Opposition parties are meant to keep checks and balances on the actions of the governing party so that they don;t lead the people astry. By joining the GNU under the disguise of contributing their quota to development of the nation, they have been made to learn the hard way.
Buhari was right in his decision and i give him kudos for the stand he took. They deserve the treatment they got from the PDP government
I hope the re-think of the ANPP is not in any way connected to the President's ill health and the repositioning of the Northern elite to search for a replacement,in case the President is unable to serve out his full term. Thereby preventing Goodluck Jonathan from assuming the post of the Presidency as specified in the Constitution. Inquiry minds just working overtime. Texxitty @ Boston Massachusetts.