ABUJA- The Alliance for Democracy caucus in the House of Representatives has rejected the recent endorsement of the Chief Mojisola Akinfewa-led faction of the party by the pan-Yoruba group Afenifere saying that those who attended the meeting in Akure where the decision was taken do not have any locus for such action.
In a statement in Abuja yesterday signed by the leader of the party in the House, Mr. Wunmi Bewaji, the caucus noted that the decision of the faction of the Afenifere was intended to “revive and re-enact what the same individuals did between the late chief Bola Ige and Chief Olu Falae” and expressed regret that even the death of chief Bola Ige could not temper ‘‘the bellicosity and cantankerous disposition” of the individuals. “While we do not question the right of all Nigerians to freely associate and discuss as this is guaranteed by the constitution, the said meeting went too far by dabbling into matters which it lacked the locus and the capacity to discuss this portraying the gentlemen as either meddlesome interlopers or outright mischief makers.
“By endorsing one candidate against the other and ruling out the need for a fresh convention, the committee has displayed its complete ignorance of the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act precipitating the INEC position paper of 11th February, 2004 whereupon INEC exercising the powers conferred upon it by law refused to recognize the two conventions held in Lagos and Abuja” he noted.
He pointed out that the Akure meeting was intended to “truncate the good work of the National Convention Committee on the proposed convention of National Unity” saying that if that was the intention, they have failed. The Leader of the Alliance for democracy in the House added that those who met in Akure “are not true Afenifere but Afefenifere “an Al Qeada network operating within the Afenifere whom he said have compromised their positions.
He called on members of the party to ignore the distraction and concentrate on the on-going efforts aimed at rebuilding and repositioning the party for the greater challenges ahead. “Party faithful should continue to liaise with their state chapters and NCC representatives for up date on the laudable activities being implemented for moving the party to the promise land,” he said.
