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Website: www.alliancefordemocracyusa.org

September 1, 2004

New York, USA

AD-USA SUPPORTS UNITY/NEW NATIONAL CONVENTION

AD-USA, the United States Chapter of Alliance for Democracy wishes to voice its support to the new (or unity) National Convention of AD being proposed by the party. AD-USA believes that the unity convention would bring the two factions within the party together and give individual members the opportunity to contest afresh for party offices of their choice. This AD-USA hopes would bring about peace and harmony within the rank and file and strengthens and positions the party for the real challenges in Nigeria’s political landscape. To this end, AD-USA supports that the proposed convention be properly called with invitation to all the stakeholders.

AD-USA therefore was not pleased with the recent press statements credited to some elements in Afenifere purporting that Afenifere had decided to recognize Chief Akinfenwa as the authentic chairman of AD. AD-USA believes that such statements would further damage an already bad situation and discourage those people within and outside the party who are ceaselessly working to bring the factions together.

AD-USA wishes to express its respect for the persons of Chiefs Akande and Akinfenwa for their selfless services to the party and the nation. However, AD-USA feels and wishes to advise both Chiefs Akande and Akinfenwa, for posterity and sacrifice for the survival of the party, to voluntarily shelve the idea of contesting for the chairmanship of the party at the proposed convention. AD-USA believes that there are other strong and credible persons in AD that could effectively lead the party at this time.

In the light of INEC’s advice to AD to put its house in order on or before October 31, 2004, AD-USA strongly advise the leaders of the party to put aside their personal interests and egos for public interest particularly the interests of millions of AD members, supporters and Nigerians who look up to them for good, sound and selfless leadership. The recent statement by an INEC official that INEC has no plan to deregister AD should not be taken seriously. Since our democratic experience still looks more like a civilian dictatorship, one would not be surprised if this statement was a mere snare to lure AD into complacency and allow this crisis to linger and unresolved till INEC’s deadline.

Finally, AD-USA wishes to express gratitude to all AD members (home and abroad) for their steadfast support and hope in the party despite the unprecedented attack mounted against the party by President Obasanjo and his PDP. The PDP has failed the nation and will continue to fail the nation because PDP has no plans or programs for the country. A formidable and proactive opposition in AD is urgently needed to wrestle power from PDP come 2007.

Oloye Lekan Awojoodu                        Barrister Dele Alade

Chairman AD-USA                            National Secretary AD-USA

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