By Abdul Rahman Agboola
In a shift from the negative trend of ethnic and religious sentiments that have beclouded our political landscape, over 500 progressive youth leaders from the six states in the South-south have declared their support with good sense of purpose to the pursuance of fidelity and unity among the young people of this country against the divide and rule tactics of the PDP led Federal Government which greatly undermines the realization of developments in both the region and the entire country.
At the town hall meeting held on September 20, 2014 at Pixy Hotels, Port Harcourt organized by the APC New Generation Initiative, the youth leaders seriously frowned at the general poor state of affairs of the Niger Delta people and other common Nigerians under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan based on the high level of insecurity and killings within the lifetime of this administration.
The youths expressed their readiness to shun the unnecessary sentiments of race and tribe to support the yearnings of average Nigerians for good governance by throwing their weights behind the struggle of APC to rescue the country from the poor fate imposed on the helpless masses by President Jonathan. They professed their determination to uphold the spirit of one nation where an injury to one Nigerian will be treated as injury to all Nigerians whether at home or in the diaspora.
APC New Generation Initiative is a group of veteran youth leaders in the rank of APC with great sense of action and positive sense of purpose to add greater value to the yearnings of both the average people of Nigeria and the progressive elite for change in governance at the top echelon of the leadership of the country.
In the opening speech, the National Coordinator of the APC New Generation Initiative, Mallam Balarabe Rufai, said in the buildup to the 2015 Presidential Election, the group is positively inclined and dedicated to the victory of APC, with a strong belief that the emergence of emerging leaders as the Presidential Flag bearers of the party will aid the victory of APC at the Presidential Poll.
The emerging leaders in quote are the young, dynamic, agile, credible, tested and trusted personalities like Rotimi Amaechi, Raji Fashola, Engineer (Dr.) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Rochas Okorocha, Senator Bukola Saraki, Adams Oshiomhole, Nasir El-Rufai, among others, with direct impacts in the lives of the younger generation.
The national coordinator further informed that the group already held town hall meetings in other five geo-political zones of the federation and presented the resolutions at the meetings to the South-south youth stakeholders for necessary consideration.
The credibility of General Muhammadu Buhari was acknowledged and applauded, but his old age, disconnection with the young people and the fact that most young people in the country today were not born as at when he was Head of State are factors of concern. It was resolved that General Buhari should be persuaded to support the most outstanding among the emerging leaders with direct connection with the young people of Nigeria.
The meeting appraised the profile of the top contenders for the presidential ticket of APC and after an exhaustive deliberation, it was resolved that all the emerging leaders in quote are competent enough to perform efficiently if elected as President of the country. However, the zoning arrangement in the party was appraised. It was resolved that the combination of Governor Kwankwaso of Kano state and Governor Amaechi of Rivers state as APC flag bearers should be recommended to the entire stakeholders of APC for necessary consideration.
It was acknowledged that APC has showcased good conscience, proper understanding of the will of the people, willingness to turn around the fortune of the country and enhance positive changes in all spheres of government against the ugly fate imposed on the country by the PDP. A vote of confidence was passed on the leadership of APC and the meeting resolved to respect the final decision of the party with determination to work assiduously towards the victory of APC at the 2015 Presidential Election
The state of the nation was discussed and the entire stakeholders frowned at the unprecedented woes added brought about by the Jonathan administration, as manifested in the weighty misdemeanors in the polity of our dear country, sufferings, abject poverty, insecurity, maladministration, recklessness, poor governance and lack of good sense of purpose by PDP led Federal Government. A consensus was reached to eschew politics of race, tribe and religion being thrown around by President Jonathan and support good governance only obtainable in APC. It was concluded that the emergence of APC at the center of governance in Nigeria is a task that must be fulfilled.
Comrade Agboola is National Coordinator, Mass Action for Good Governance and Grassroots Development in Nigeria. Email: [email protected]; 08032813279
