With reference to the publication made by IPAC on the 13th June, 2024.
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) finds the call by IPAC embarrassing, disconnecting from the realities and outright display of ignorance and sheer incompetence to state the least.
Calling for the impossible dissolution of CNPP Excos and Sack of SA Inter-Party Affairs is ignorance taken too far, and to think IPAC wants to detect to the government who to appoint as SA Inter-Party Affairs in Cross River is pitiable as well as laughable.
We would love to intimate IPAC and its leadership that, a political party is an organized group of people with a sui generis label and possibly an acronym that, primarily recruit, train and file candidates to be elected to vacant public offices by eligible electorates through the constitutional means of periodic election. In a democratic dispensation, political parties are indispensable and the salient roles that they play cannot be overemphasized.
Concerning their functions, political parties articulate and aggregate the interest of the people, educate the masses on electoral, political and socio-economic matters, represent the people at the national, state and local level; sustain the democracy of a country and lastly, act as a watchdog (in the case of opposition party) to the ruling party which continuously keeps it on its toes for the greater good of the State… It is no wonder E. E. Schattschneider said “political parties created democracy, and modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties”
In the light of the above, Political Structures and logarithms are also a key fragments of the system, hence, formation of advisory bodies and strong political structures meant to galvanized support during and after elections.
Deepening democracy requires going beyond elections to building strong institutional foundations including the rule of law, constitutionalism, strong media and civil society, and, perhaps most importantly, political parties.
Prima facie, political parties provide a vital channel by which citizens can aggregate their interests, make policies, and hold government accountable, hence, a call to address Inter-party advisory council (IPAC).
To state in strong terms the duties and positions of Inter-party advisory council (IPAC) and that of Conference of Nigerian political parties (CNPP).
1) IPAC is only an advisory body, which duties starts and ends in advisory capacity, although this has been done with a high level of mutiny, disrespect and insubordination to the office of the sitting government in recent times, because of huge level of ignorance to the functions and duties of IPAC that is perversive amongst this new crop of IPAC leadership, and its recent members.
2) IPAC must know that CNPP is a political pressure group whose duties are not in conflict with that of IPAC, therefore, it is idiotic, irresponsible and childish for IPAC to call for the dissolution of CNPP Executives sighting crisis that only exist in the figment of their imagination. One would have ignored IPAC knowing that it’s a display of political immaturity from this present leadership that is solely controlled by a cartel whose duty has always been to be antagonistic against any government in power, using the instrumentality of IPAC for money benefits at the detriment of other innocent members, etc.
3) CNPP is the largest political gathering in the state and it comprises past and present party Chairmen, representatives from different political parties and reputable leaders of diverse endeavors, with core duties of CNPP stipulated as follows ;
= Adoption of suitable and qualified candidates and canvassing for support during and after elections irrespective of political parties.
= CNPP serves as a watch to any government in power and to see its success in making sure that the dividends of democracy gets to the grassroot.
= Maintaining peace and tranquility in all the political formations for a smoother running of governance in our state.
Furthermore, We condemn in the strongest terms the lame call by the so called IPAC for the dissolution of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties ( CNPP).
The crisis IPAC wishes CNPP can never be, as CNPP is more united and formidable to see to the success of the present administration that is already doing well.
The IPAC call is done out of ignorance, laziness, greed, selfishness and shear political childishness.
We also condemn in the strongest of terms the call for the sack of Special Adviser on Inter-Party Affairs to the Executive Governor of Cross River State Hon. Nkoyo Otu and install one of their greedy members as SA Inter-party is a callous and complete selfish demand, this is a clear case of arrogance, mutiny on the exalted office of the sitting Governor and total display of incompetency.
We strongly advise Political Parties to elect or select competent and honest leaders with good conscience to represent them at IPAC to avoid this kind of embarrassing and disgraceful scenarios this present crop of incompetent IPAC leadership is exhibiting.
This ill-conduct by IPAC is misleading and dangerous to the political stability of our dear peaceful state, thereby, gradually constituting itself into a political nuisance and threat by their senseless calls.
To this end, CNPP hereby pass a vote of No Confidence on the present IPAC leadership as this present IPAC leadership is ignorant, pompous, arrogant, incompetent can never take corrections, and it can never do the state any good rather has the capacity to throw the state into political crisis if not nip in the bud.
We advise that IPAC leadership study the Code of Conduct for Political Parties in Nigeria (2018) as revised, to know its boundaries and adhere strictly to them, to avoid further political interjections, misconduct and insinuations thereof.
In furtherance to the above, the Conference of Nigeria political parties, hereby passes a vote of confidence on the Special Adviser Inter-Party Affairs, Hon. Nkoyo Otu and therefore call for close working relationships with all political formations for a better Cross River State.
In line with this, we call on the government of the day to look critically at the menace and madness exhibited by IPAC as this may be a sign of formation of parallel government.
Conference of Nigeria political parties hereby promises the government of the day her total and unalloyed support and involvement in whatever capacity it may be required for the overall interest of Cross River State.
God bless CNPP
God bless Cross River State
God bless Nigeria
sign
Pst. Odung Micheal, Chairman, Conference of Nigeria political Parties(CNPP)
Comrade Martin B. Bujor, Chairman, CNPP Elders Council
