Adedeji Fashina, is a certified Engineer
and member, Nigeria Society of Engineers.
He is the Protem Secretary, Internal
Control and Party Discipline of the newly
registered Abundant Nigeria Renewal
Party (ANRP). In this encounter with
Ismail Omipidan, he spoke on how the
party was formed and why he joined the
group.
*
How do you feel getting recognition from
INEC as a registered political party?
*
There’s no gainsaying, I feel elated and
happy for reasons more than one. First is
the fact that not many persons gave us a
splitting chance of getting certified,
especially when we are no moneybags or
old-order politicians. It is a case of can-
do spirit, vision, hard-work, tenacity and
professionalism paying off. It is one thing
to describe the problems of Nigeria and
to analyse it, but it is an entirely different
thing to take steps and start doing
something about the situation. To gather
passionate, vibrant and sound Nigerian
people to put heads together to aim at
and attempt to change, not just the
government but our politics, is no doubt
heart warming.
One year of complying with INEC
requirements are not so simple, but if you
must change a system you must be an
example of that system. We were dogged,
refused all temptations to cut corners,
stuck to our core ethos and principles and
today we are here as a registered political
party. It is indeed an amazing thing.
Being registered is not however the end, it
is only the beginning of real work, the
paradigm shift in Nigeria’s politics.
*
You are not known to be a politician, so
what were the things that informed your
decision to join the group?
*
During my quiet moments of
introspection, I have often wondered
about why things are retrogressing in
Nigeria. About how real credible change
can be brought about in the Country and
how our future and our children’s future
can be better and safe-guarded. I have
often wondered that with the present
scenario where a few individuals have
grown to become god-fathers in existing
political parties, whereby democratic
ideals are often thrown to the seas upon
the directives of money-bags and how
little or no dividends of democracy are
getting to our people.
It was during one of those moments that I
got a call in early December 2016 from
my friend Tope Fasua, an Economist,
Financial Analyst and Service Excellence
Advocate of a plan to register a new
party. Tope, had been writing a series of
articles on the need for disenchanted
Nigerians to quit the complaining and
move away from arm-chair criticism and
take action. He envisioned the creation of
a mega-party of all Nigerians who felt
short-changed by the inept governance. I
immediately signified interest because
that was what we needed. The other
argument was that we should join the old
parties and make the difference from
within. With due respect, how can we
hope to reform a system that has left
Nigeria prostrate? A system that had no
sound ideology, that didn’t try to
communicate with any of their members,
and had no discernible decent DNA? We
rather went with the idea of establishing a
new path rather than dissuading people
from following an old path. We needed a
new approach to governance outside of
what the establishment politicians were
offering. Untainted Nigerians,
professionals, business people,
tradesmen/women etc, decided it was
time to come together to take destiny into
our own hands instead of complaining on
social media and offline. Let the light
engage the darkness and let’s see the
result.
*
How did you come about the name of the
Party?
*
The name of the party was initially
centered around ‘Renewal’ because we
believe there is a need for renewing the
way we think and do things. We believe
also that there is Abundance in Nigeria to
reach all, including our generations yet
unborn, if we organise well and are
sincere. We believe that the Abundance
Nigeria has is for all and not just for a
chosen few. Hence, the name, ANRP.
Registering a party is one thing, making
impact during election is another; what
are the strategies you have put in place
to ensure your party does not end up like
many other mushroom ones before it?
First of all let us understand that the
party is set up first to point Nigeria and
our huge population in the direction of
renewal. We are here to bring about a
Renewal in our society in and out of
government. For us, it’s not a sprint but
a marathon. We are here for the long
haul. We are here for Nigeria, not just
elections. And that’s what sets us apart
from all the mushroom parties you talked
about. We are registering an Institute to
carry the ethos and message of the party
to different strata of the society. If we
change our politics maybe we will start
having a different outcome. In essence,
while we are out there mass mobilising
and reaching out to our people, we have
a long term approach to renewing Nigeria.
We are a grassroots party, active in all 36
states, the FCT and in the Diaspora. We
have presence in local government areas
in the states and down to council wards.
Our 28000+ verifiable members are spread
across and our membership is growing
daily. One election cannot determine
success or failure for us. Indeed one
election may be a signal to redouble our
efforts and instil a sense of urgency but
one election cannot define us whether win
or lose. Yet we are confident of making
an impact in the next election and
changing the narrative. And this has
already started. We initiated crowd
funding, online registration and party
supremacy and structure, and even the
old parties are now copying us. Setting
the pace is what we do. We are running
for all offices in the land beginning with
local government elections this 2018. We
already have candidates. Our party has a
policy of sponsoring our councillorship
candidates. We take the local government
system serious because it is the closest
to the people. As we go on from election
to election, we shall keep improving.
*
What are your projections as far as 2019
is concerned?
*
As regards 2019, we believe our Nation
will witness a departure from the old
ways. It will not be entire but it will be
significant enough for further action to be
built upon. We want members, not just
voters. As members, we are part-owners
of the party and together we can choose
the best candidates through transparent
primaries by open ballot system.

E be like say dem won yarn us new tori

Ok, we're listening

This one na new order

pls add YET

cos they will soon come.

greatnaija01:
pls add YET

cos they will soon come.

They ( Moneybags et cetera) can't beat the apparatuses in place to checkmate their corruptive tendencies and instincts, our system will frustrate people joining with ominous intentions.
We operate with transparency, hi-tech, cerebration.