IKUBESE: WHY I'M QUITING THE NATIONAL CONSCIENCE PARTY (NCP)
WHY I'M QUITING THE NATIONAL CONSCIENCE PARTY (NCP)
BEING THE TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY DR THOMAS-WILSON IKUBESE AT THE NUJ PRESS CENTRE AKURE ON 14TH MAY 2018
Protocols.
I declared to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on
24th July 2017, because the recommendations in my book tittled MY
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR NIGERIA written in 2011 which I sent to our political leadership
wasn't implemented. These recommendations/prescriptions if implemented will
bring about the much desired positive change in our dear nation, and position her
where she ought to be; amongst the best nations of the world.
Premised on these, I decided to run for the office of the President using my book to
benchmark governance.
My followers who are scattered around the 36 states of the Federation decided
thereupon that we join the National Conscience Party (NCP) and pursue the
actualization of the birth of the new Nigeria of our dream therein, because the
ideologies of the Founder of the Party, late icon Chief Gani Fawehinmi, which
centered around fairness, equity and justice were in tandem with mine.
I then joined the NCP on 16th September 2017.
Because of my respect for the memory of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, I will not want to go
into the fine details of the happenings in the NCP and the various hostilities I have
suffered from the leadership of the Party, except unfolding events in the coming
days make it expedient for me to do so.
I will however state two reasons why it will be difficult for me to remain in the NCP;
1. The National Chairman Yunusa Tanko and the National Secretary Ayodele Akele
drafted a document (attached herein) directing that any Presidential Aspirant who is
less than 2yrs in the party should pay the sum of N7.04 million naira to the Party,
which is against the age-long tradition laid down by Chief Gani Fawehinmi that party
members who seek to run for offices should do so at no cost, as a populist Party, as
to encourage the masses to thereby participate actively in politics. The argument
advanced by the duo is that this money will serve to finance the Party. Conversely
however, Article 9.4.1 of the constitution of the NCP clearly stipulates how the party
shall raise funds, i.e membership fees, donations and/or contributions from well
meaning individuals or bodies, proceeds from sale or auction of party materials and
publications and income from investments. Nowhere is it stated in the constitution
that funds shall be generated by levying aspirants mandatorily!
This action is in further breach of Article 4.1.3 (c) of the NCP which stipulates that a
National Congress must be convened to discuss the affairs of the Party and to take
such decisions and/or give general guidelines as may be necessary for the progress
and proper working of the Party. A National Congress was not called, as this decision
was taken exclusively by the National Chairman and General Secretary.
2. The National Chairman, Yunusa Tanko formerly declared to run for the office of
the President on the 23rd April 2018, without resigning his position as National Chairman. As at today, he doubles as the National Chairman and a Presidential
Aspirant of the NCP to the disadvantage of any other Aspirant in the Party who will
be "screened" by a committee that will ultimately report to him.
He thus upholds the power to approbate and reprobate.
You cannot be in charge of the Party, control its machineries and resources and also
be an Aspirant without fairness, justice and equity being compromised. Tanko
erected a barricade, mandating me to pay N7.04million as a Presidential Aspirant,
while he is not making any such payment, even though we are running for the same
office.
Since the National Chairman and General Secretary of the party have obviously
compromised the integrity for which the party is known, I hereby withdraw my
membership of the NCP forthwith, for if I remain in the Party, it is obvious that the
duo will use the Party machinery to the advantage of Tanko. And should I defeat him
in the primaries, he and his accomplices will most likely work against me in the
general elections.
I call on members of the NCP to rise and protect the legacy of justice and equity in
the Party for which Chief Gani Fawehinmi lived and died.
For me, I shall move on and continue to join forces with genuine progressive-minded
individuals and groups to birth the new Nigeria of our dream.
A New Nigeria is possible
Together we can
#YesWeFit
Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese
2019 Presidential Aspirant
14th May, 2018
#iyituwatv
#iamadeolutayo
#iamsam
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