ACN rejects unity govt, warns party members

On May 4, 2011 · ·

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN,  has said it is not interested in the so-called Government of  National Unity,GNU, being planned by the PDP-led federal government, saying it is satisfied with its role as the leader of opposition and a government-in-waiting.
In a statement issued in Abuja,Wednesday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said this clarification should dispel the rumours that the ACN has been contacted and that it is
in negotiations for a share of ministerial appointments.
”Our stand against the so-called Government of National Unity is that it stifles democracy by compromising virile opposition which is a key ingredient of a vibrant democracy, thereby encouraging the emergence of
a one-party state.
 It also stunts development and promotes complacency. We hope this clarification will silence those who have been peddling the lies that our party sold out to the PDP during the presidential election,” it said.
The party warned that any member of the ACN who is interested in the GNU should first quit the party, and also reminded state chairmen of the party to guard their utterances and clear with the national executive committee before commenting on issues such as the GNU.
”No member, at any level of the party, should trade with our name. State Chairmen should comment only on issues within their areas of authority and stop committing the party on issues that are only within the purview of the National Executive committee of the Party.
”We know that this is the ripe season for ‘food is ready’ politicians, who are ready to sell their birth right, if  necessary, to join any government in power.
 But as we have always said, we are not willing to compromise our ideals just because we want to share in the spoils of office.
”If we did not compromise when we have just one state, why should we do so now that we have grown to six states, with the possibility of growing further when we challenge in court those who stole our mandates? Therefore, any member who wishes to work with a PDP government should get out of our party today,” it said.
ACN said the era of the party’s executives paying ‘courtesy’ visits to governments of the ruling party in their states is long gone, and that member, no matter how highly placed, who tries to trade with the name of the ACN would be sanctioned accordingly.
Suspension of A-Ibom ACN chair
The party also said the state chairman of the ACN in Akwa Ibom, Aniekan Akpan, stood suspended from the party and could, therefore, no longer speak for the party.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State chapter of ACN has said that the statement credited to its chairman, High Chief Jide Awe, that the party was interested in a government of national unity was quoted out of context.
A statement by Mr. Yemi Adaramodu, chairman of the party’s Bureau of Public Communications, said ACN was not ready to exchange  marriage vows with the PDP.
The statement said: “Memories of the conjugal disaster between the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, and the PDP in the outgoing dispensation were enough testimonial to scare away any would-be partner in such unholy engagement.
“Our stand against the so-called government of national unity is that it stifles democracy by compromising opposition and could encourage one party state.
“Without diminishing the personality of Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the dismal performance of the PDP in its 12-year rule in Nigeria holds no incentive for such association.
“While we wish Mr. President and the PDP well in their newly captured mandate, the ACN with her clear ideology of people first would not be subsumed into the blurred vision of a reactionary rat race party like the PDP.
“Mr. President constitutionally is empowered to pick his cabinet members wherever he chooses but the ACN has a lot to do in fixing the decay in the newly freed states that the party could not afford to rent out any of her egg-heads and sustaining hands.
“
The latent interpretation that was attached to Ekiti ACN chairman, Chief Jide Awe’s remarks implying that the party supports a government of national unity is thus unfathomable and the purported assertion was a momentary relief to the pains of the loss of grounds by the PDP.”

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