7th May 2010
PRESS STATEMENT
It may be recalled that on the 7th of May 2009, on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), thirty seven political parties out of the then existing fifty, met in extra-ordinary session at the old CNPP secretariat in Abuja.
The parties inter alia dissolved all existing CNPP structures and adopted a charter of association to move the conference forward. A six member Central Coordinating Committee (CCC) under my leadership was elected with a one year mandate. The raison-d-etre of the extra-ordinary conference was that certain persons without any mandate of the political parties had privatised the affairs of the Conference for the previous seven years.
My one year tour of duty is now up. The charter allows an extra and final one year term for any officer desirous of enjoying that option subject to election.
I feel particularly honoured to have been elected by my colleagues as primus inter paris, and have given the mandate my best shot. I always saw my role as akin to that of John the Baptist. We have left Egypt but have not gotten to Canaan yet. In the circumstances therefore, my tenure as National Chairman of the CNPP expires today 7th May 2010. I have handed over the affairs of the Conference to a transitional committee led by Dr Adegbola Dominic, National Chairman, Action Party of Nigeria (APN) to organise election of a new CCC.
In that new election I would not be seeking re-election for the following reasons.
1. I have always believed in the dictum of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo that the bane of our political history is the propensity of public office holders to perpetuate themselves in office. A malaise which he aptly described as tenacity of office. I personally believe that an actor should leave the stage when the ovation is loudest.
2. It is my intention to seek election in 2011. I am already in the process of consultation within my party the CPP, the electoral alliance of 10 political parties called Patriotic Alliance of Nigeria (PAN), my family, friends and admirers.
On a final note let me say that we need a total reorientation by political party leaders and politicians in general if we are to achieve the people's democracy of our dreams. The level of perfidy and or hypocrisy is disconcerting. We must practise what we preach and not just talk, but also walk the talk. Only democrats can practise democracy. A situation where in some political parties one man has been National Chairman since 2002 shows that party as a sole proprietorship, not a democratic organisation.
Politicians must be prepared to play by the rules. There should be no blows below the belt, or off- side goals. Public office should be seen as an opportunity to give service and not for self aggrandisement.
Finally the electorate must be vigilant and eternally jealous of their sovereign authority to elect their leaders through the ballot box.
Maxi Okwu |