Prof Rufa’i Alkali, National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on Wednesday said the party was open to alliances ahead of the 2023 general election.
Alkali, a former presidential adviser on political affairs to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, disclosed this in Lagos at a news conference.
According to him, the party is not aversed to negotiations toward building the country.
“Parties who want to discuss with the NNPP must do so as an equal partner and must share our views on the future of the country.
“All parties are equal before the law. We are talking about the future of Nigeria,” Alkali, a former national publicity secretary of the PDP said.
He decried the lack of sophistication in political negotiations in Nigeria, saying that people should not come to a negotiation with sole option that the NNPP Presidential Candidate, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso should step down his ambition for them.
According to him, when a party sits down to negotiate, they have to first try to understand themselves: what is it that they share in common–ideals, vision, manifestos, aims and objectives to work together.
He added that parties should also agree on the level of the alliance either at the house of assembly, representatives, senate, governorship or presidential.
“In politics we talk about capacity.”
The chairman, however, said that Nigeria cannot afford to make mistakes in 2023, stating that the NNPP would usher in fresh ideas on building the nation’s economy if elected.
“NNPP is a Nigeria project and will usher in a spontaneous change in the nation’s polity,” he added.
He noted that the NNPP remained the fastest growing political party in Nigeria and would soon get the support of majority of Nigerians nationwide.
He said the NNPP would remain consistent with its principles which were to better the lives of the Nigerian masses.
On power rotation, the scholar said that the concept of zoning is the bane of the nation’s polity.
“What Nigeria needs is leadership that people can trust and will deliver,” Alkali, a professor of political science and economy said.
On Muslim Muslim ticket, the chairman said it was the prerogative of the candidate to choose his or her running mate, noting that what should matter most should be tackling Nigeria’s challenges.
He added: “If we want this country to change we must move beyond zoning and religious discussions.
“We have passed the stage of contradictions of zoning and religious sentiments.”
Shekarau: NNPP won’t be dragged into unnecessary controversy – National Chairman
On the defection of Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, one of its chieftains in Kano, Prof Alkali said the NNPP will not be dragged into unnecessary controversies.
Recall that Shekarau, a former Kano State governor, who joined NNPP recently from the ruling APC, dumped the party on Monday and said he would tell his supporters their next move over perceived injustice.
Reacting to the development, Alkali, a former presidential adviser on political affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, told newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday that the party respected the Shekarau’s judgment.
“On Shekarau, we respect his judgment but will not allow the NNPP to be dragged into unnecessary controversy. We have great respect for him and he is also a person who believes in a better country. We respect his decision, whatever he has decided for himself,” Alkali said.
The party chairman, however, said that the party was still talking to Shekarau.
“What is important again in politics is that if you lose, you will gain. It doesn’t mean a total loss, whatever happened, it doesn’t mean a total loss, it may be a setback.
“But for now, the situation is that we are discussing with him (Shekarau). We are sure that case is not over until it is over.
“The party is working in every state of the federation to ensure that wherever there are problems, we handle those problems,” he said.
He said that the party had in place, a reconciliation committee at the national and zonal levels to resolve all perceived disagreements.
Alkali said that the party’s door remained open to all who were ready to sacrifice for the nation rather than dealing merchants.
Speaking on Nigeria’s security challenges, the NNPP boss said that the challenges were surmountable.
Alkali, who is also the former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that NNPP would tackle security, economic, education and other challenges giving Nigerians sleepless night.
According to him, the party, if elected in 2023, will ensure improved security to tackle various socio-economic challenges facing the country.
The chairman, who described Nigeria’s problems as being interconnected, said that NNPP would return Nigeria to a 24 hours economy hub by improving on security.
The scholar, who decried the politicisation of security, expressed optimism that the nation’s economy would boom again as soon as insecurity challenges were addressed.
“If we want to bring back everything in the country today, it is security.
“Again, we cannot usher in security without employment and education. The bottom line is that, first the country must understand that it has to be holistic.
“These are solutions to the problems and I know they can be solved.”
He said that the party’s robust plans for security and economy would be revealed to the public in due course.
