Opposition Parties Have Failed - NPLF
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 15, (THEWILL) – The Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) led by Mallam Adamu Ciroma after its Monday, February 14, 2011 meeting in Abuja declared that opposition parties in the country have failed to provide the alternative that Nigerian voters have sought in this political dispensation.
The NPLF also berated Nigerian politicians, who it said, “have not learned any lesson from our past and are about to repeat the same mistakes which brought political instability to the nation and stunted its political development.”
The political group added that, “If the behavior of Nigeria's political parties during the recent primary elections is anything to go by, then it is safe to assume that the quality of the forthcoming general election in April will make the discredited 2007 election seem credible, free and fair.”
In a statement by its leader, Mallam Ciroma, the group said “all the nation's political parties must share responsibility but the largest proportion must go to the ruling party because of the level of impunity it exhibited especially in the following areas: lack of internal party democracy characterized by sham elections at all levels and, where a semblance of election was held, the substitution of bona fide winners with losers or total strangers. This practice continued to the very last hour allowed by INEC.
“Total disregard of the constitution of the party and the law governing elections in a desperate bid to maintain the status quo.
“Excessive corruption and financial inducement leading to the outright purchase of delegates, the naked display of wealth by public officers and their spouses and their open misuse of resources largely belonging to the public.
“Violence and thuggery leading to political assassination of opponents as well as willful and blatant misuse of public office to intimidate, harass and deny perceived opponents their liberty and democratic rights.
“Using security agencies and the judiciary to manipulate the electoral process in order to favour preferred candidates.”
The forum also decried the state of insecurity in the country, especially in Akwa Ibom, Borno, Edo and Plateau States and called on the authorities to rise up to their responsibilities of protecting the lives and properties of citizens.