By Emmanuel Bello, Aliyu S. Machika & Abdul-Rahman Abubakar
Friday, December 22, 2006

The party unanimously took the decision at its national convention held in Abuja yesterday.

Speaking at the occasion, the National Chairman of the DPA, Chief Olu Falae, said the time has come for progressive politicians to upstage the current crop of ‘purposeless’ leadership in the country.

Chief Falae said: “It is not easy to dislodge a ruling party in third world countries especially in Nigeria. In 1999 I believe that I won the election but someone was sworn in, in 2003 Buhari won the election still another person was sworn in, it is time for Nigerians to resist such act.”

Falae who was the 1999 presidential candidate of the ANPP said there had been consultations between the DPA and all progressives in the country for the past one year and that the party found in Buhari a credible leader that can provide the much needed credible leadership for Nigeria.

In his acceptance speech, General Buhari thanked delegates of the DPA for providing him the party’s platform for the 2007 presi-dential election.

Buhari added: “It is time for Nigerians to rise and defend their votes, it is not just to cast their votes and go back home but they must wait at the polling centers to protect their votes.”
He said it is time for the people of Nigeria to take charge of their destiny. Buhari added: “since the amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914 there has never been a time which Nigeria got as much revenue as now, but in the contrary there has never been anytime that poverty was widespread as now.”

Buhari added that there is need for formation of alliance and coalition in order to form a strong opposition capable of upstaging the incumbent government of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
The 2003 ANPP presidential candidate urged Nigerians to make use of the opportunity provided by the 2007 elections to ensure that they elect credible leaders who will move the country forward.

“Nigerians must be prosperous, progressive and live in a peaceful society which can guarantee security of all citizens”, Buhari added.
DPA has joined about five political parties that have adopted Buhari as presidential candidate for next year’s election.

Some of the parties are; the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Progressive Action Congress (PAC), the People’s Salvation Party (PSP) and the ANPP which Buhari is a member.

Meanwhile, Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu has emerged as the presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA). This was the fallout of its national convention held in Abuja yesterday.

Governor Kalu was adopted as the presidential candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) by a consensus gesture that was unanimously accepted by the delegates that converged at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Center, Abuja.

The governor who was adopted in the presence of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammad Buhari pledged to offer Nigerians better leadership.

Kalu described Buhari as a man of principle and discipline, saying it was his regime in 1984 that brought sense of discipline to Nigerians.
While congratulating Buhari for the gesture, he equally stated that no society can develop without discipline and urged all Nigerians to imbibe the culture of discipline in their day-to-day affairs so that Nigeria can move forward.

He warned against any possible attempt to rig the 2007 general elections.

Earlier in his remarks, the National Chairman of the PPA, Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed said Nigeria deserves better leadership.
Alhaji Suleiman who criticized the ruling party’s incompetence, assured that PPA, when voted into office will ensure that it rectifies the problem of power inadequacy and electricity.

“Nigeria deserves better with our natural resources and that is why a PPA-led government in 2007 is needed to lead us to the Promised Land,” he added.

The strength of the alliance between the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) and the Action Alliance would be put to test today in a meeting between the two as the issue of a consensus candidate takes center stage. It is expected that one of the two presidential flag bearers in the alliance would be dropped from the race.

Both parties had agreed to present a single presidential candidate for the 2007 general election. The Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged the flag bearer of the AC while former Head of state, General Mohammadu Buhari is ANPP presidential flag bearer. By the MOU of the alliance signed recently, one of them is expected to step down for the other.

Describing it as a tough meeting, Chairman of the alliance and former governor of Edo state said, “The occasion will test the patriotism of our leaders. It is a time to make the tough decision and we hope that patriotism will prevail today.”

A source however disclosed to Daily Trust that the Buhari camp believes the former head of state will be adopted by the alliance. He said: “Buhari is a good brand and he is the best we can project and he has all it takes to rally the support of Nigerians behind his candidature.”

But for Hon. Usman Bugaje, a close aide of Atiku the matter was beyond speculations. He said that today’s meeting would come up with a solution, even as he added that Atiku, who is currently out of the country, has communicated his position on the matter before leaving for his vacation.

Bugaje noted: “there are two levels to this alliance. The first is the one, which is constant. That is, it is our desire to ensure that PDP is driven from power. We all must work together to ensure this happens. We must ensure there are credible elections, that the police, SSS, INEC and even soldiers are not used by the PDP to sabotage the people’s vote. That is the first leg of the alliance.

Then there is also the second part which is the issue of a consensus candidate which I think is a matter for strategies to win elections. We must also work together in that area. So irrespective of who emerges the candidate, the first level of our alliance must be held sacrosanct by us.”

Today’s meeting will also produce the running mate of the consensus candidate. Already some names are making the rounds on who may be the running mate to the ANPP candidate.

Senate President Ken Nnamani, whose name was touted, had confirmed that he was approached for the position. Other candidates are Ogbonnaya Onu and, Mike Ahamba.

The ANPP is zoning the position to the South East against the PDP’s strategy to use the South South as its launching pad for the campaigns.

Explaining the strategy, a source close to the ANPP said the Buhari/ Okadigbo ticket was a winning one and hoped that the 2003 feat could be repeated.