ABUJA – Alhaji Bari Salau, the National Publicity Secretary, Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), on Tuesday advised aggrieved officials of the party to cease fire and embrace peace.
A statement signed by Salau in Abuja also urged the national executive council members to be focussed and work together for the party to maximise its gain in 2015 general elections.
Salau said that though INEC had waded in to resolve the crisis, the party believed that “this is not the right time to hold a national convention as it could cause division in the party.
“This is the time to work together for victory.
“After the election when we are able to count our gains and losses, we can then organise a convention to elect our national officers and make room for lower organs of the party at state, local and ward levels.
“That is the spirit of our party constitution.
“Nigerians are watching us and they will repose their confidence in us with the way we resolve our internal problems.
“We have fought a battle in defence of democracy and won. Let’s embrace peace to win the war,” he urged.
The spokesman, however, commended the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Department of INEC for its intervention in the crisis.
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“The ADR of INEC is an institution I would recommend to Nigerian polity. The department, under their director, is a credit to Jega’s sagacity and political intellect.’’
Salau said that the institution made the party to believe that members needed each other.
He also commended Nigerians for their understanding of the crisis members of the party imposed on themselves.
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“Despite the intensity of its damage, we are able to field 15 gubernatorial candidates and their deputies with a large number of legislative candidates throughout the federation’’
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He said that the feat was no doubt a measure of acceptance of UPN by the people as the alternative party in the country.
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Salau also urged Nigerians to pray for the country to ensure peaceful general elections next year. (NAN)
