The Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, has congratulated the major opposition parties in the country for successfully forming a new platform, All Progressive Congress, APC).
A statement issued on Thursday by Rotimi Fashakin, spokesman of CPC said the new party will rescue “Nigeria from the ruinous hold of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP.”
The party said: “Paradoxically, the new Party so formed shares the same acronym with Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC), which is a vehicle for transporting Soldiers for combat.”

“Indeed, the new Party (APC) shall be open to all Nigerian Patriots that are ready to fight against the free-fall-slide-to-the-abyss of the Nigerian state by the PDP’s precipitous rule in the last 13 years.”

“As a Party, we endorse the entry of the All Progressive Congress into Nigeria’s politics as an ideologically based political association that is intrinsically structured to providing an alternative platform for the Nigerian people,” Fashakin said.
Meanwhile, the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has expressed satisfaction over the coming together of the Action Congress of Nigeria {ACN}, All Nigeria Peoples Party {ANPP}, All Progressive Grand Alliance {APGA} and Congress for Progressive Change {CPC} to form a new alliance.
A statement by Osita Okechukwu, spokesman of CNPP while praising the parties for putting aside their difference for the purpose of a new beginning said: “When news filtered in that the governors of the merger political parties met in Lagos few days ago, we said is this real life or is it true that the leaders of the merger political parties can forego their mini-kingdoms in the interest of our dear country.”
“For us the consummation of the merger is a milestone in our march towards true democracy and we salute those who made it possible. History books in liberal democracies throughout history underscore the import of two major political parties.”

“CNPP is therefore, relieved that the birth of APC will no doubt return Nigeria to true democracy, put paid to the inordinate ambition of the leaderless Peoples Democratic Party {PDP} to foist a one party state in our political landscape and rule Nigeria for 60 years, without commensurate performance and fresh ideas, benched only on Do-or-Die tactics.”

“It is our considered view that the stage for 2015 elections is now set, on one hand the conservative PDP with anti-peoples programmes and on the other hand; the APC anchored on the ideological spectrum of center of the left, pro-peoples programmes.”

“We call on other progressive political parties to join the APC in their resolve to halt the dangerous drift of Nigeria into a failed state.”

“Finally, we challenges the Professor Attahiru Jega led Independent National Electoral Commission to set forth at dawn, by jump starting concrete preparations for the 2015 general election; for we will frown at cancellation of elections for the inability of the printer to submit election materials as was the case in the 2011 National Assembly election.”

 

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) in its renewed interest to encourage public officers and individuals who have doggedly and painstakingly contributed to the protection of consumer’s rights in Nigeria through various legitimate ways had on Thursday doled out awards to deserving Nigerians.

The event that held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers considered several prominent Nigerians who have lived up to expectation in consumer related matters for different awards. Among the recipients of the different awards were her Excellency, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, Charlyboy, AKA AreaFada and a host of others.

Charlyboy, who was given one of the highest awards alongside the First Lady, was honored with the Nigerian Consumer Ambassador Award (NiCA). This award, according to the organizers was in consideration of his several activities relating to the protection of consumer’s rights, especially as a dogged fighter and a social crusader who has maintained a steady ground behind Nigerian consumers.

It would be recalled that Charlyboy during his tenure as the PMAN president had stood against piracy, taking the fight to Alaba and other places where laws on intellectual property were completely violated. His action was a wakeup call to Nigerian Musicians and other artists who were working without intellectual and creative compensation. His campaign against piracy gave the industry a new face, hence the present success in the Music industry as consumers of music and films are beginning to enjoy better productions from its original source.

Also featured in the CPC awards were Service Excellence Award, Product Excellence Award, and Corporate Social Responsibility Award.

 



 



 

Responding, Charlyboy commended the organizers for such a thoughtful and remarkable event, pledging his continuous support for CPC as an Ambassador. According to him, “You see, this Award will boost our continuous selfless service for Nigerian consumers. It shows that some people appreciate some of the little effort we make to ensure that consumers enjoy the value of what they pay for. In a predominant capitalist environment like ours, there is a tendency that the people get exploited by the bourgeois materialists, but some people must always stand in their defense. This needs a lot of sacrifice. I pledge my continuous support for CPC as we all hope for a better Nigeria.