From Kogi State APC Youth League:
The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi State has no doubt done very well in terms of the determination, mobilisation and eventual victory that removed the long years of PDP misrule and maladministration in the state.
The feat was also achieved through the total commitment, sacrifices and contributions of the stakeholders of our party. This was further aided by their robust knowledge of the political environment, and drive for equity and delivery of democracy dividends for the people of the state. We have recorded success in that regard and are happy to be associated with the leadership of the party.
However, we are concerned with the state of wranglings going on in our party at the moment which if not addressed could spell doom for the party and the state in general.
The political imbroglio that has rocked the Kogi State APC Chapter since the inception of Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration is unprecedented considering the level of intrigues and the power play that has frustrated peace efforts so far.
Prince Abubakar Audu’s death no doubt led to certain changes in political equations and permutations that perhaps,could have caused a major political crisis in the state, but it was managed by the party’s hierarchy through the introduction and emergence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as a replacement.
Although, the action was greeted with several litigation, today it is on record that the matter has been settled in the Supreme Court by the affirmation of Alhaji.Yahaya Bello as the governor of the State.
It is therefore in our interest and that of the general public that the peace therefrom,be maintained to foster further unity amongst the stakeholders in the ruling All Progressive Congress party in the State.
The infighting has therefore become unnecessary and a distraction in delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of the state.
The APC promised change in the state will be effective if all the warring groups or parties responsible for delivering the golden goose dump their personal interest and work together in the interest of the people.
The APC factions should see themselves as one political family and as such must strive for continued support for one another in the interest of the people.
No individual is greater than the party as the party’ s supremacy must be observed and upheld in all ramifications. We all know that no individual can exist without the society and the society cannot exist on its own without the individual.
APC in this regard cannot exist without the various stakeholders, who worked tirelessly towards the success of the 2015 gubernatorial elections in the state which also saw her candidate as the winner of the election.
It therefore behoves on the party leadership and hierarchy to wade into the lingering crises with a view to bringing together the various interest groups and factions for the good of the party in particular and the people in general.
Individual and primordial interests must be jettisoned by all if we must go beyond 2019.There is greater strength in unity and this was what gave victory to our great party at the polls in 2015.The unity was so unprecedentedly calamitous to the the ruling party then.The PDP lost because we were united.
Today, disunity is threatening our great party and the PDP is still much around to wrestle power from our own party on account of this disunity if urgent step is not taken to address the issues at hand.It is worrisome to have a divided house in the face of oppression.
Therefore we must all work assiduously towards bridging the elusive gaps as witnessed today in our party in order to chart a new course for greater peace within the party in the state.
We appeal to all the APC warring factions in the state to sheath their sword and see everyone as one family as strife is retrogressive and inimical to development.
The leadership of the party in the state under the watchful eyes of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello,as the party leader in the state, should use his good office to call for a round table discussion with the following :
1: The Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba.
2: The State APC Chairman, Chief Hardy Ametuo.
3: Chief Edward Onoja.
4: Sen. Dino Melaye.
5: Sen. Alex Kadiri.
6: Prince Mohamed Audu.
7: Hon. James Faleke.
8: Hon. Tom Ohikere.
9: Party Elders and
10: All stakeholders among others.
It is our humble opinion and prayer that this will bring about the possibility of working out a modality and road map towards checkmating the challenges posed by these ugly trends.
APC has come to stay in the state but we have to strive towards building further bonds capable of delivering the much needed gains of democracy to our people.
However, in doing this we must understand that leadership is about service to the people and the ability to mould people into one team.It is about the possibility of addressing the plight of the poor electorates whose mandate we enjoy in any case as leaders.
Building bridges as opposed to building fences across board makes leadership skills worthwhile and acceptable by the people than otherwise.
APC promised good policies that would be people driven and people oriented,we must not lose focus on getting this done across the state.
We should be able to keep the promise as this will help build public trust in the party’s ability to deliver the dividends of democracy.
We, the youth league of the party have come to realize that instead of paying attention to details in this regard,our party has been enmeshed and engrossed in unnecessary crises capable of diverting attention to the issues on ground.
We can achieve more if united as a party no matter the cost and so, concerted efforts must be made to tackle the problems head on.
No matter what we do as a party, we must bear in mind that all members and stakeholders have their differences in some cases but the interest of the party must prevail.We believe that justice must be done to all as it is the bedrock of any groups or society no matter whose ox is gored.
The era of political maneuverability and tantrums are over as it breeds impunity and all manners of political malfeasance.
Our political journey with its robust history have metamorphosed into reality of a political system that is basically anchored on accountability with a high sense of responsibility championed by men and women of political sagacity and dexterity of our great nation.
Kogi State cannot hide under any guise to fail but to deliver the dividend of democracy to the people as promised.
This is the social contract that must be strongly upheld if we must have our way as a party.
Individualism and sectional intrigues must be jettisoned to engender participatory collectivism and to douse down all pervasive intrigues that is inimical to the development of the state.
Above all, let there be peace as no meaningful development can take place in an atmosphere of rancour.Let us strive to provide infrastructures and maintain the existing ones.
State apparatus and it’s paraphernalia should be deployed to ventilate the air of panache in governance.
Internal wranglings and rivalries must be avoided by all means possible as no one can do it all alone.
Let the change begin with you and me now.Let the change begin with the leadership of the party across board as it trickles down the lines.
Let our individual ego be crushed by our love for the party on the altar of the masses whose mandate and sovereignty we enjoy as leaders!
Peace is a sine qua non and ultimately, the only yardstick and prerequisite necessary for development of our state. Therefore,we must advocate and propagate peace in all our dealings no matter the cost.
Let our collective desires for a viral economic and political development override our individual and primordial interest as there is absolute strength in unity.
Signed by:
Comrade Usman Omaojo Godson, Coordinator Kogi State APC Youth League.
Mr Kayode Ajibola, Secretary Kogi State APC Youth League.
Hon. Ojoachele Akor Felix, Director Political Action and Mobilization Kogi State APC Youth League.
Email address: omaojogodson@gmail.com
Phone Number: 09029264512 / 08055721080.
