- Safiu Kehinde
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has called on true opposition political parties in Nigeria to join hands with the Federal Government to build the country.
The party’s founder and National Leader, Boniface Aniebonam, made this call while speaking at the NNPP Independence Day anniversary stakeholders meeting on Tuesday in Lagos.
The party also said that rather than inciting statements and unverified criticisms, opposition parties should contribute their quota through viable submissions and suggestions to get Nigeria to greater heights.
Aniebonam stressed that unguarded criticisms alone would not lift Nigeria from its challenges.
The NNPP National Leader also said that every political party in Nigeria owed it as a duty to help come up with suggestions that could help Nigeria surmount its challenges.
“Indeed, the Federal Government cannot be given excellent performance mark yet but there are areas too they have done well.
“Democracy allows criticism but it should not be with intention to pitch the people against the government.
“Every Nigerian, including political parties must prioritise the interest of the nation above self for us to grow.
“Divisive comments to drag the President into disrepute or push our youths into violent protests will not help the situation,” he said.
Aniebonam noted that there was so much rot in the system before the All Progressives Congress-led administration came into power.
He said: “I listened to the President’s speech and I think there is hope for Nigeria.
“The aim of every political party is to take over power in their respective areas. When it is time for politicking, the NNPP will try to convince Nigerians on why they should vote for us.
“For now, our major interest remains to grow the party, this is especially coming after our major dispute with some renegades amongst us that we expelled so that we can move forward.
“We remain united and focused and we are more interested in not only continuing to grow the party, but to give our advice when necessary to help the nation.
“We have always supported policies of the Federal Government when necessary and where we think there should be amendments we equally give advice.”
Aniebonam, however, urged those inciting Nigerian youths to protest to think twice and call them to order as a violent protest would affect everyone.