By Sunday Ani
Founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has appealed to the Nigeria media to stop referring to him as leader of a faction of the party.
A statement by Aniebonam on Monday, said: “The media in particular should please do me a favour and stop referring to me as the leader of a faction in the NNPP.
“I am the founder and father of the NNPP from 2002 till date, and it is not in contest. I still hold the certificate of registration of the party.
“A faction going by the dictionary definition is a small group within a larger group. Therefore, it is Rabiu Kwankwaso and his followers that were a faction before he was expelled from the NNPP.”
Aniebonam said he regretted the turn of events after offering the sole candidacy of the party to Kwanwkwaso in 2023, as its presidential candidate.
“I regret that I came with a clean mind and at no cost with members of the NNPP national executive committee and members to help Kwanwkwaso and his Kwankwasiya movement to contest elective positions in the 2023 general elections.
“I regret to note the turn of events at the moment, but really, there is nothing to worry about. It is my belief that a day shall come when peace shall return to the party,” he said.
He stated clearly that he was not aware of any faction in the NNPP.
“It shall never be my intention to lead a faction in a party that I founded, nurtured, financed and supervised its growth and development for 22 years before the entry of Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiya movement.
“Unfortunately, elder Buba Galadima, who led a delegation of highly respected Nigerians to my country home in Umuawulu town in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, is today found on national television, displaying an uncommon character of an elder, and that is disheartening.
“It is my belief that the end shall justify the means, and coercion and application of non-conformity means do not usually resolve the internal crisis.
“The silence of Kwankwaso under the circumstances may not present him as a character that can advance the course of a greater Nigeria of our dreams. God’s decision is supreme.
“Under the canopy of the NNPP, I am Kwankwaso’s leader, so he should stop the undue arrogance and avoidable pride. He can still reactivate his Alliance National Party and continue his journey to the presidential villa,” he stated.
Aniebonam emphasised that what should be uppermost in the minds of Nigerians should be joining hands with President Bola Tinubu at this trial time to achieve the mantra of new hope for Nigeria of our dreams.
“It is only God that decides the king. A great leader is he or she who can make wrong decisions rather than taking none in a matter of urgent importance.
“Nigeria needs a great leader to take strong decisions, so let’s work hard, be patient, and make sacrifices and it shall be well with us,” he submitted.
