Apong Pongener working president takes over as the next President of NPF for the tenure 2024-2028 from veteran Naga politician and party leader Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu. This was announced by the NPF Central Election Board at the general convention 2023-cum-61st foundation day of the party at Capital Cultural Hall, here on Saturday.
In his acceptance speech, Apong Pongener expressed gratitude and appreciation to the outgoing president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu for his leadership during some of the most challenging and turbulent years in the party’s political journey. He expressed hope that veteran leader Dr. Liezietsu would continue to offer his wise counsel and advice whenever required.
NPF represents Nagas, says Dr. Shürho: In his speech as outgoing NPF president, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu said that NPF represented the Nagas broadly in all respect since the party was “deeply rooted in the Naga society and in the unique history of the Naga people.”
He reiterated the party’s stand to the people of Nagaland that NPF was the only regional party today that represented the identity and the aspiration of the Naga people. “Our commitment is to protect, preserve and promote the socio-political identity, our rights and privileges as a unique people,” he said.
He assured that the party would continue to uphold its commitment, which no power on earth can destroy it. He said Naga people were with the party at the grassroots level and would remain so as the North Star under any circumstances.
He further reiterated that NPF would continue to play its role as active facilitators for an early political solution of the “Indo-Nagal” political problem. He said NPF stood for a political settlement, which is acceptable, honourable and inclusive. Dr. Liezietsu pointed that the nomenclature of the party changed a number of times in the past as per the need of contemporary situations. However, he said the nomenclature “Cock Party” remained the same till the present.
Dr. Liezietsu reminded the gathering that the ‘Cock Party’ came into being amidst blood and tears and formed with a purpose and a strong commitment to pave the way for upholding the right of the Naga people through a thorough democratic process.
He, therefore, urged the party workers not to forget party’s originality which remained the very foundation of their identity. He said that the party observed the “foundation day” every year to remind themselves of the foundation laid by elders. Dwelling on the journey of NPF over the decades, Dr. Liezietsu lamented that many of the members played “character assassination games” against their few colleagues who worked hard for the party. He said the party was unaware of the presence of “wolves in sheep skin in our midst till the cat was finally out of the bag”.
Dr. Liezietsu, called upon everyone to retrospect and realise the right or the wrong steps one had taken through so they could take the right decision for their future.
He said NPF was the party of the people and therefore, invited “all our old friends to come back home again if they want to regain their rightful place in the society and in the party.” He encouraged would-be home comers not to hesitate because one’s future was much more important than facing temporary embarrassment.
Commenting on the recent elections held in Nagaland, he said last election was more like “a gambling bout” wherein money decided the fate of the people.
Dr. Liezietsu cautioned that if the present trend continued, only the rich people or their proxy leaders would represent the Nagas in the Assembly.
He also asserted that all rich people were not wise men and asked whether it would be proper to let only rich people represent people in the highest policy making body?
“At this rate, human values and virtues have lost its credibility and life has lost its charms with no future,” Dr. Liezietsu said.
He said that the present system of governing was reducing the Naga saga into money politics.
Delivering his speech for the last time as the party president, Dr. Liezietsu assured that he would always be open for people seeking his advice. He urged the members to open party meetings, big or small, with an invocation prayer and close the meetings with mass prayer.
The 61st general convention was led by working president, Pusazo Luruo.
Earlier, welcome address was delivered by NSF working president, Samuel Risom, acknowledgment by NPF central women wing, special number by Lepenthe Thyorr, recommendation of the election board was read out by NPF senior vice president, Tsumongo Ovung and Bible reading and anointing prayer by NBCC finance secretary Rev Noksa Chio.
Oath taking for newly elected office bearers & frontal head 2024-2028 was administered by Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu
NSF secretary general, Achumbemo Kikon, MLA, presented the secretary report while short speeches were delivered by NPF Manipur state unit president and minister Awangbow Newmai and NPF legislature party leader Kuzholuzo (Azo) Neinu, MLA, and NPF’s former secretary general Chubatemjen Ao.
The general convention, through a resolution, expressed gratitude to Dr. Shurhozelie Liezietsu, for the sacrifices who had devoted more than five decades to the party.
NPF elects COB: Naga People’s Front (NPF) announced the names of Central Office Bearers for the tenure 2024-2028 during the party’s general convention cum 61st foundation day at Capital Cultural Hall, Kohima on Saturday.
The COB would be led by Apong Pongener as president with four working presidents—Dr.Huskha Yepthomi, Sumel Risom, Thenucho Tunyi and Pusazo Lürüo; Kruzakie Kelio as treasurer; Achumbemo Kikon as secretary general; four senior vice presidents; 12 vice presidents and two general secretaries.
The party also announced names of party’s central frontal heads for the tenure 2024-2028 including Süpoyi Vezhu as central youth wing president, Yanhola Yim as central women wing president, T Yangyam Phom as central farmers’ wing and Bishnu Bhattacharjee as president central minority wing.
16th Pfutsero NPF unit walk-out of GC
Just when outgoing NPF president Dr.Shürhozelie Liezietsu was to take the podium to address the NPF general convention, delegates from the 16th Pfutsero A/C NPF unit staged a walk-out in protest against inclusion of one or two members in list of NPF office bearers.
According to NPF secretary general AchumbemoKikon MLA, the Pfutsero unit was not happy at one or two of the newly elected office bearers. “Today’s incident is one such where we should take it positively of encouraging the party workers to express their views in any given agenda,” he told Nagaland Post.
On the appointment of office bearers, Kikon said the party has retained most of the incumbent members and maintained status quo.
He reiterated that NPF party will address the issue positively and resolve any differences among the members by making necessary rectifications in the coming days.