APC Crises: Aggrieved Youths Reconcile Differences Ahead Of Convention

APC Crises: Aggrieved Youths Reconcile Differences Ahead Of Convention

POLITICS DIGEST – Some aggrieved members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the aegis of the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) have withdrawn a suit they filed seeking the sack of the National Chairman, Caretaker Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CEOCPC), Governor Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe State.

The group led by Prince Mustapha-Audu, were at the APC National Secretariat on Monday , Abuja on Monday afternoon after formally applying for the discontinuance of the case at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The APC National Youth Leader, Barr. Ismaeel Buba Ahmed and Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Party’s National Caretaker Committee, Hon. Yakubu Murtala Ajaka spoke to journalists after a successful reconciliation meeting with the leadership of the Progressive Youth Movement.

Ahmed said: “You know we are all young people and APC is a party of young people. In any political party or organization, their is bound to be disagreement. Our brothers and sisters here have had to express their concerns over certain things over a period of time and now we are all here, we have reconciled.

“They have tabled their concerns and the party have taken care of some of these concerns because the party is listening party. We are here to hold our hands and sing ‘kumbaya’ that we are one united party. We are here to proceed and work together in the forthcoming party convention and the general elections in 2023.”

He highlighted some of the concerns that have been resolved to include, first the issue with the date of convention which have been resolved. Secondly, to make sure young people have stake in the party, especially for the position of the national youth leader of the party. He said, ” they wanted to ensure that positions are not being allocated to a god father somewhere to determine who he brings without the consent of the youths that have contributed. Among other positions which the young people believe that in a party of over forty million membership, at least thirty million are youths and the leadership of the party must reflect this reality. Hence, it was more of an issue of structural leadership and reforms which the caretaker had been work on. They have shown that they are satisfied with some of the changes and progress made so far.”

Mustapha-Audu said they filed the suit in view of en existing disagreement within the party, which has since been resolved.

“As our leader has said, their were some points that we did not agree with the leadership of the party but in all honesty this is the only party that listens to young people. We clamoured for a convention in February and the leadership of the party listened and gave us February convention. We clamoured for 26th and they gave us 26th; We clamoured that letter be transmitted to INEC and letter had been transmitted to INEC as we speak. In all fairness, it will be wrong of us to continue anything further knowing that our leaders have listened to us. The only issue which of course we know they are working on is the inclusion of young people at the convention. So we are standing together with our leader who is representing over forty million youths to say that we are firming behind him and the leadership of the party because they have listened to us.

“With the statistics available to us it is quite obvious that the majority of the membership of the party are youth and it means that they cannot do anything without carrying the youths along. This is why we are here to say that we are going out there to tell everyone that though some mistakes might have been made in the past but no one is perfect. We are going to work together to usher in a new set of young and older people that will show that we have a group of leaders that will meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.”

Dr Hassan Sadiki, a member of the movement observed that: “This issue has shown that we have the caliber of youths in the party that can lead this country if the reins of leadership is handed over to them, all they have to do is come together and work together. This is a sign that the youths are ready to take over leadership position in Nigeria”.

Aliyu Audu, the convener of APC Rebirth also welcomed the resolution. “We asked convention in February, that letter be transmitted to INEC and to be included in the scheme of things. All we have requested is to have confidence in the leadership of the party and to ensure we have a truly progressive party that meets the expectations of all. Every person in the party, especially the youths understand the disconnect between the leadership and Nigerians which those of us standing here typified. Going forward we look forward to actual inclusion of young people in the convention and post convention in the management of the party. By extension in the formation of government after 2023 election which we believe we are going to win” he said.

Ahead of the planned National Convention, Barrister Ahmed assured all the youths of the party’s committment to ensure fairness and inclusion of marginalised groups, particularly Youths in party positions.

“Just to be clear, the chairman of the party, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni have done an incredible job of including the youth in the party. What we have been able to do, no party has given youths avenue to thrive like APC since the return to democracy since 1999. This can be seen in our national youth convention last year, our meeting in Ibadan yesterday and we will keep doing what we have been doing for everybody to have a voice and come together.”

It is up to us as young people to come together, organize and better manager ourselves.

The Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Party’s National Caretaker Committee, Hon. Yakubu Murtala said: “As you can see the party is now one and united. They have withdrew their case from the court and we can work together for the progress of the party. And the party has openly accepted them as our members, as brothers and sisters. We are all working towards the convention on the 26th of February and a successful convention we shall have.

Princess Zahara Mustapha-Audu, Chairperson of Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) was elated at the development, she noted: “Our leaders have all spoken and our agitation at the Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) is to ensure youth inclusion and our leaders have said that it will be taken care of. So we will continue to work together as one for the progress of the party.”