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Taken from This Day News:
AD Crisis: Akinfenwa Withdraws Suit Against Akande
From Tunde Sanni in Ibadan and Philip Ogunmade in Lagos, 07.06.2006
An end appears in sight yesterday to the multiple crisis plaguing the Alliance for Democracy as factional chairman, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa withdrew all pending court cases against the Chief Bisi Akande- led faction and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party has been engaged in titanic battle since the convention of December 16, 2003 which held simultaneously in Lagos and Abuja with each faction laying claim to supremacy and accusing the other of connivance with anti AD forces to destroy the party.
Akinfenwa in Ibadan in a chat with newsmen affirmed that the stage is now set for full reconciliation and integration with all aggrieved party members in the party in order to reclaim its lost position as well as restore the hope of the common man.
He subsequently called for dialogue among the various factions and aggrieved forces within the party so as to fashion out the way forward for the party ahead of the 2007 elections.
The AD chieftain confessed that he has been under intense pressure from various groups including religious leaders and traditional rulers who see the party as the last hope of common man to allow for a peaceful settlement of the leadership crisis.
The former Commissioner for Education in the old Oyo State under Chief Bola Ige in a post mortem of the over two and a half year crisis and its effects said his decision to withdraw the cases instituted in court was borne primarily out of his desire to ensure that AD does not die.
His words," Since December 2003, Chief Bisi Akande and his national executive as well as my executive have been locked in battle in court over the authentic chairman and the national executives of AD, what one had hoped was a simple task for the court to determine vis a vis who complied with the rules and regulations of the party in the convention of December 2003 and should be determined in a matter of weeks has gone on for two and a half years with no hope of early resolution in sight".
Akinfenwa continued, "I have been under tremendous pressure from well meaning Nigerians including religious leaders and traditional rulers who see AD as the last hope of ordinary Nigerians and after consideration, I have decided to withdraw my suit against INEC, Chief Akande and his executives from court without consulting my colleagues and associates and against the advise of my counsel who I hope will bear with me and forgive me in due course."
He said, "I am mindful of my position with history particularly when the history of the AD is to be written, I believe that I am taking the path of honour and rectitude.
He expressed his believe that "history would adjudge as much of my believe that I have done my best in the prevailing circumstances and I hope the essence of this sacrifice shall not be wasted to party men and women of goodwill.
He contended, "I leave the rest to you , wounds need to be healed, full reconciliation , integration and coming together of all members and sympathizers is a necessity."
The former senator described AD as one of the foremost parties in the land and pleaded that it must not be allowed to die as it has a pact with history and destiny.
According to him, "too much sacrifice went into the birth, nurturing and growth of AD such that the party must not only survive, it must return to its winning ways."
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