Posted by From Imam Imam in Gusau on
After a marathon meeting held in Gusau, Zamfara State on Thursday, which lasted almost eight hours, the Board of Trustees of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) agreed in principle to set up two committees to re-examine the party's continued participation in President Umaru Yar'Adua's Government of National Unity (GNU).
After a marathon meeting held in Gusau, Zamfara State on Thursday, which lasted almost eight hours, the Board of Trustees of the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) agreed in principle to set up two committees to re-examine the party's continued participation in President Umaru Yar'Adua's Government of National Unity (GNU).
A communique signed yesterday by the BOTs chairman, Alhaji Gambo Magaji and secretary, Senator Saidu Kumo, said the review committees are expected to forward their recommendations to the party's next BOT meeting scheduled to hold next month.
The decision is coming at a time many members of the part, led by its former presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari are kicking against the party's continued participation in the PDP-led administration of President Yar'Adua.
The Board's communique also advocated for a more transparent, democratic and participatory primary election formula akin to the American system.
However, the BOT failed to achieve a common ground on the reconciliation effort initiated by the party with aggrieved members led by its presidential candidate, Muhammadu Buhari.
Some of the BOT members in attendance at the meeting expressed dismay over the conduct of Buhari and his political campaign organisation (TBO) towards the reconciliation committee headed by Alhaji Bashir Tofa.
Both Buhari and the TBO have refused all entreaties to reconcile them with the party hierarchy after they parted ways immediately after the 2007 general election.
Sources informed THISDAY that some hard line members wanted the BOT to condemn Buhari and adviced the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party to disband the Tofa-led committee and continue its affairs without Buhari.
Most members however opted to have the reconciliation panel continue its assignment. It was mandated to explore other avenues like traditional institutions to have Buhari sit on the table for dialogue with the committee.
The source told THISDAY that the BOT members were however unanimous in the rejection of the now rested Niger Delta summit which the PDP-led Federal Government was planning to host with a view to addressing the problems in the region.
ANPP national chairman, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, in his presentation to the meeting, described the proposed summit as a waste of time and an indication of the government's inability to come out with a tangible solution to the problem.
He said the solution to the delta problem lies in genuine commitment and the desire to tell oil companies some bitter truth, which, according to him, the present administration has not been doing.
In his remarks at the occasion, Governor Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi reiterated ANPP's commitment to actualising its dream of having a government that would vigorously pursue people-centred policies.
"Our people have an unshakable trust in the efficacy of the system of democracy and its capacity to meet all their legitimate yearnings and aspirations. We should therefore continue to uphold the noble principles of this universally respected system of governance, which markedly distinguishes it from other systems.
"Our people have an overwhelming confidence in us, which finds expression in their continuous reposing upon us the great trust of leadership.
It is this confidence that propels our commitment to intensify efforts towards improving their lot," Shinkafi said.