Forum of Nigerian Political Parties Chairmen have disowned a statement credited to the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) and other civil society groups under the umbrella body, Coalition of National Civil Society Organisation (CNCSOs) that they have concluded plans to occupy the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) headquarters until the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele resigns or denounces his purported presidential ambition.
Chief Kenneth Udeze, National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA) who spoke on behalf of the political parties in a press conference in Abuja on Friday said the forum also note with dismay the statement credited to the CNPP that it will, alongside some faceless groups, attack the CBN headquarters to force the governor to resign and stop the activities of the support groups that have been asking him to contest the 2023 presidential election.
He said, “Let us state clearly that the Nigerian registered political parties are not and can never be part of any plan to attack any government offices, including the CBN headquarters. This is clearly a move to truncate the peace being experienced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and we hope that the security agencies would have taken note of this.”
According to the statement, the CNPP does not speak for registered political parties in Nigeria because it has been disbanded and replaced by Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). The statement notes that one Willy Ezugwu who signed the statement had been sacked as CNPP Secretary even before the group was disbanded.
“Willy Ezugwu is not an official of any of the registered political parties and so he cannot speak for them,” the statement said.
The forum called on security agencies to rise to their responsibility of protecting lives and properties around public buildings including the CBN headquarters.
“In the event of the breakdown of law and order in the FCT and its environs, we are sure our security agencies know those to hold responsible,” the statement added.
