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Founder Of The Party, Dr. BONIFACE ANIEBONAM Explains
Politics is a game of interests. It breaks up political allies and reunites them again when interests align. It can also come neither betrayals. The saddest thing about betrayal is that it never comes from your enemies. It comes from those you trust the most and as far as NAGAFF is concerned, Senator Kwankwaso has betrayed them.
The intrigues and crisis rocking NEW NIGERIAN PEOPLE’S PARTY (NNPP), started penultimate week between National Association Of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) who are known to be the pioneers of NNPP and Senator Kwankwaso the Party’s Presidential Flagbearer in 2023 election. This has led NAGAFF to raise #150million as legal fee to fight back at Kwankwaso over claiming the ownership of the party. The founder of both NNPP and NAGAFF, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam has opened up on the issue at stake. FAKEYE ADERONKE met with him at NAGAFF Headquarters at Apapa and he gave some reasons he felt NAGAFF is angry with Kwankwaso but he still insists amidst these that there is no crisis.
Amidst the tussle between NAGAFF and Senator Kwankwaso, how will you describe NNPP current situation?
Well, of course there is nothing going on in a large family like the New Nigerian People’s Party that hasn’t happened in other parties. You know NNPP is Number three in Nigeria in terms of political party. So there is no way you won’t think that a time will come that there won’t be misunderstanding. Politics is about interest, who gets what. So what is important is the ability to get it resolved which we are doing
What step is NNPP taking to address the crisis?
The procedures for conflict resolution is contained in our constitution, which is the processes you have to go through if someone has done anything contrary. You set up a committee, investigate and profer solution for management decision, so that’s the process for now.
How has NNPP been responding to allegations and litigations against the Party?
If you approach a court for a matter, it means you want peace, and so the other party has to respond. Everything is to ensure peace within the party and peace of the society.
What information channel is the party using to keep members and the Public informed amidst this crises?
People should understand what is going on within the party. I am the Founder of the party. In the last election, Kwankwaso was the flagbearer of the party to contest for Presidency, so automatically even though it’s informal he became the leader of the party. So for now, you won’t hear him say anything and myself, so it’s as good as to say that there is no crisis within the party.
Has the issue affected the morale and unity of the Party?
You see those that are agitating for one issue or the other within the party won’t be in good state of mind, if not allowed to say their minds. And the other side also will want to react appropriately and that is why there is crisis and that crisis is on the verge of being resolved.
What Message would you want to convey to your party members and supporters?
I have said it severally that everyone should be peaceful. Go about your respective businesses with due respect to the laws of the country and everything will be okay. I want to believe that in other political parties also, there are internal crisis, so these issues are part of politics. You see human beings behave in the way they see things.what is important is the procedures of the constitution of the party. So like I said, the internal crises is not a new thing and that is politics for you.
You sound so confident and you are unperturbed over this issue at stake?
I have not told you anything. I have never said there is crisis. And two of us are the leaders of the party. I am the Founder and even in the Constitution, it’s very clear that I am a permanent member of the Board of Trustees and I have access and liability of the company. In this case, as a founder and life member of the board, I have the mandate to cause an action if someone goes against the law and constitution if verified. And definitely that aspect of the party’s constitution will be utilized.
NAGAFF has raised a whopping fee of #150million as a legal fee against Kwankwaso. Do you forsee a long battle between the two?
Certainly, NAGAFF is not really happy with the way things are going on and that is the truth of the matter. As an organization, they believe its a legal battle and of course the lawyers have to be paid.They needed that money which they have raised. (I still insist that I have not said anything). Kwankwaso himself also hasn’t said anything. Democracy is about freedom, you allow people to ventilate. I’m a student of taking advantage of whatever that happens which I’m not looking at the negative aspect but the lessons God wants us to learn and whatever is going on in NNPP is a message which in my nature, I’ll translate to a greater thing that has happened to the party.
Amidst this crisis do you agree with the fact that in politics, so many intrigues and betrayals will always play out in the long run?
If you understand what NAGAFF is saying now, they are looking at it from betrayal of trust. They gave this party to Kwankwaso on a platter of Gold to contest for the President of Nigeria but the kind of body language they are getting now is not in their interest, hence their reaction but like I said earlier, I am the Founder of both NNPP and NAGAFF and we are not in a military zone neither are we dictators, so we allow them to ventilate and show that they are not happy.
At the appropriate time, I will interfere on the matter, but if I shut them down now, the anger will still be in them because I’m beginning to understand for instance that the issue of Accountability is also part of the issue. Organization should be accountable. As it is now, NNPP under the leadership of Kwankwaso so to say is not contained in our Constitution that there is Chairman and Secretary but it seems to me that they are not being accountable for instance in the last election, someone should have come up with an audited account of money that came into the party and all that now, these are one of the issues raised and I am studying the situation.
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