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 Daily Independent Online.
* Friday, August 13, 2004.
IBB candidature splits CNPP
By Bolaji Adepegba
Senior
Correspondent,
Lagos
Attempts by former military
ruler Ibrahim Babangida to advance his Presidential ambition in 2007 on a
multi-party platform may have run into a hitch as the Conference of
Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) is polarised over his candidature.
The conference has listed it
as part of the agenda of a meeting slated for August 23.
It was learnt that key aides
of Babangida suggested the possibility of him running on a multi-party
platform if he is unable to hijack the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
believed to be sympathetic to the quest of Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
However, CNPP members are said
to have split into two camps, with the All Progressive Grand Alliance
(APGA), arguably one of the groups at the core of the multi- party
platform, insisting that it would not back any Presidential aspirant
outside the South East.
Pro-Babangida groups are said
to have come up with strategies aimed at galvanising politicians across
party lines to support his ambition as a prelude to having him run on a
multi-party ticket.
To further achieve their aim,
the loyalists plan launching books written on him across the six
geo-political zones as well as organising workshops and seminars to boost
his support.
One of such is the launch of
Babangida’s biography, written by John Shagaya, scheduled for Owerri, Imo
State today.
The event, to be chaired by
APGA’s Presidential candidate in last year’s election, Odimegwu Ojukwu,
is also expected to be attended by retired Supreme Court judge, Justice
Chukwudifu Oputa as guest speaker and by former governors, among others.
Indications of a likely split
in the CNPP were confirmed by APGA National Chairman Chekwas Okorie in an
interview. He dismissed as untrue reports that Ojukwu accepting to chair
the book launch amounts to dumping the party’s earlier position on the
2007 Presidential race.
Said he: “The party’s policy
is irrevocable on the zoning of the Presidential ticket in 2007 to the
South East. I am aware that the delegation led by Shagaya went to meet
Ojukwu to ask him to be chairman of the launch. There is nothing wrong in
that at all. And he has accepted, but that does not suggest that he would
even be available on the said date to grace the occasion. In fact, I have
seen his copy of the book and it is not in honour of IBB. It also
contained some pointed policy flaws of the IBB years.”
But Okorie sees nothing wrong
in Ojukwu attending the book launch as it does not suggest that such a
move portends success for the pro-IBB groups.
On the other hand, CNPP
Secretary Maxi Okwu, who is also a member of the APGA, said his group is
yet to take a stand on Babangida’s candidature. However, he confirmed
that his bid will be part of the agenda of the CNPP at its meeting on
August 23.
Okwu, nonetheless,
corroborated the statement of Okorie: “In APGA, we are not a part to the
consideration of IBB as a candidate of all the parties”, a stand that
clearly contradicts the move from other parties in the CNPP coalition.
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