Etiebet Remains ANPP Chairman, Says Lagos Chapter Chairman
12.12.2004Hon. Adetunji Oyebolu, one-time Lagos State Deputy Chairman of the defunct United Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), is the Acting Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Lagos State. In this interview with Ndubuisi Ugah, he speaks on the circumstances that led to the suspension of the former state chairman of the party, the position of the party on the resolutions reached at the Maiduguri NEC meeting and why Chief Lanre Rasaq left the party among other issues
Can you give us the position of the Lagos State chapter of ANPP on the recent parallel NEC meetings that were held recently? Well, if I may say categorically, abnitio, when this imbroglio that erupted at the national level started, the state exco met and took a decision and the decision is that we should stay on the side of the constituted authority, that is, we should stay on the side of the constitution of the party that whatever was going to happen at the national level, it should follow the constitution of the party and the former chairman of the party at the state level, Alhaji Jamiu Egbodokun was so directed that he should always be on the side of the constitution and the constituted authority. Having said that, the party at the state level now aligned itself with the Maiduguri resolutions, that is, the Maiduguri meetings because that is where the party stands.
Looking at the decisions that were reached where Chief Don Etiebet was returned as the National Chairman of the party. does that mean that whatever decision other faction took at its own NEC meeting remains null and void?
(Cuts in) Of course, that is what it means because if you will recall Chief Don Etiebet came into office through a congress and there has never been any other congress that has taken place since then which still makes him the national chairman of the party and moreso that the majority of the national exco of the party have re-affirmed his mandate by saying that he is still the chairman, that is giving him a vote of confidence at the Maiduguri meeting.
Etiebet was equally quoted as saying recently that some of the party's executives that did not attend the meeting (Maiduguri) would be sanctioned. Does that tally with the constitution of the party?
Well the party has the right to deal with erring members. If those that did not attend the Maiduguri meeting are confirmed to be erring, of course the party has the right to deal with them appropriately.
As the state acting chairman of the party, it is generally assumed in some quarters that the former chairman is believed to be engaging in anti-party activities. What do you think the state chapter intends doing about the development?
If I must say this, the former chairman has been suspended. he is on indefinite suspension and this suspension is borne out of the fact that he has breached the constitution of the party. The state executive is the highest decision making organ of the party at that level, and the state exco gave the former chairman a directive and if he fails to carry out such a directive, of course he has to face the consequences of such an action, which implied that he has breached the constitution of the party. So he is on suspension.
Does this explain why he was not at the last press conference the state executive called to address certain issues that affect the party?
Of course, that exactly what we have found out. Having discovered that, we have realised his anti-party activities, and he refused to show up to clarify these issues, even then he has gone on air because he was on TV to confirm our fears on those complaints that were brought against him, he confirmed that he was on the otherside of the divide which is against the decision and instruction of the state executive.
What are the plans on ground to show that the party is preparing itself ahead of future elections?
Well, having put behind us the small squabbles as it were, we, that is, at the national and state levels are calling meetings on what steps to take as to reposition the party in such a way that in the 2007 general elections, the party will be able to face the enormous challenges before it. And that we are doing in earnest.
Looking at the way things have been going in terms of who becomes the party's presidential candidate ahead of 2007 election. what would you say to those aspisring for the ticket?
If I must say this, all that is happening now I consider to be rumour. and I don't usually like commenting on rumours. the only person that I know that has been our presidential candidate in 2003 elections and who is still showing some interest in coming out for the 2007 elections is General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). And I hope he is still with the party because as of now, he is the only one that is showing interest. That is not to preclude other contestants that maybe coming out, so I think it will be too early for now until such a time when we start facing the realities of what is on ground.
Does it mean that is why he (Buhari) has been silent all along considering the various crisis that has been rocking the party lately?
I don't think he has been particularly silent as such. Whoever knows him very well knows he is a very straight forward man, he is a very courageous man, the moment he takes a stand, he makes it open. He was at the Maiduguri meeting anyway, which means he has aligned himself with the party.
Let us look at Chief Lanre Rasaq. He was a notable chieftain of the party before he left for the PDP. So many people have attested to the fact that he had this influential role he played in the party?
People outside the party believe that he had this larger-than-life reputation. As far as I am concerned, Lanre Rasaq is not of much consequence to the party. As a close associate, I have worked with Lanre Rasaq for an upward of 10 years now, We were in UNPP, we were in APP together and then ANPP. As a matter of fact, I was the State Deputy Chairman for upwards of six years, and he is somebody I know very well, which means that that opinion is erroneous. He left because the party was undergoing strategic repositioning, which may not have suited his expectations.
So what have you to say concerning the followership of the party at the state level?
Quite honestly, I consider the party to be a sleeping giant because we have not had the right kind of leadership, quality leadership, we tend to have lost some followship. But I am assuring you that within the next few months, we are going to give the party the kind of vibrancy which it requires, that is, we are going to give it dynamism, that it requires, we are going to give it a purposeful leadership. The followership will experience some level of change in what it used to be known for, a positive change in all ramifications.
How does the party intends to keep the Alliance for Democracy (AD)-led government in Lagos State on its toes?
Of course, that is what I am saying. I personally don't believe in criticising policies of government any how. We are going to give the AD government a constructive engagement, that is, constructive criticism and where possible, proffer solutions.
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