By David Lawani
The Coalition of Progressive Youth Groups in Nigeria and the Diaspora, Copy-ND, led by its Director-General, Dr. Aminu Abdulahi Isyaku has blamed the attacks by an unrecognized group called Progressive Youth Movement (PYM) on the caretaker Youth leader, Ismaeel Ahmed as the sponsor of the group against the legally constituted caretaker and extraordinary convention planning committee, CECPC under the leadership of his excellency Governor Mai Bala Buni.
Isyaku who gave the briefing at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja on behalf of youth leaders representing various youth groups in the country and in the diaspora which includes APC United Kingdom chapter, grassroots mobilization for Buhari-Osinbajo, APC youth league, Buhari support groups, youth mission & initiative for African development, grassroots mobilizers for better Nigeria initiative, etc, said they are ready to set the record straight.
He maintained that the APC has just one caretaker committee and that any other group parading themselves is not to be taken seriously.
According to him: ” What is even more worrying to us in the Copy-ND is that, in all these theatrics, what is the role or lack of it of the Youth Directorate of the party in managing the affairs of the youth in the party? We, therefore, challenge the national youth leader of the party to prove to us that he is not even remotely related to any of the members of the so-called PYM or their actions because we take his silence on this matter and lack of action against the people involved as strange.
” We, therefore, call on the party to investigate the root cause and personalities involved in this unconstitutional power grabbing in the party, and if they are truly members of the party who acted against the law, the party should apply sanctions on them immediately.
” As the next convention is fast approaching, the coalition of progressive youth groups in Nigeria and diaspora (Copy-ND), is resolute in assuring our teeming APC youth members that we shall continue to seek our rightful place in the party through constructive engagement with the party, to improve the promotion of youth interests and better include young people in party activities”, he said.
Copy-ND said their mission is to set the record straight and calm the anxiety of APC youths and declare that there are no faction or leadership crises in the all progressive congress. ” We are the ruling party and we have one caretaker party leadership in place, led by his excellency governor Mai Bala Buni was appointed unanimously by the NEC of the party.
” We will also dare to say that we are a volunteer coalition that is driven by the concern that we have for the need to correct the negative impression created by the careless actions of the so-called PYM, that Nigerian youths in politics are desperate and disrespectful to constituted authorities.
” Accordingly, we have painstakingly analyzed the political events in the last few days in the youth constituency of the party and wish to state without ambiguity, that the copy-nd is not part of this grand plot to destabilize the party. , and also not to disrespect President Muhammadu Buhari’s support for the party’s leadership that he led to put in place.
” Therefore. The so-called new leadership announced by this sponsored desperate youth group – PYM does not represent the views of the teeming youths that form the foundation and remain the assets of our great party, he said.
Copy-ND reiterated that the APC is a party of rules and due process and is too critical to the Nigerian youth, such that it cannot be distracted by a mere press briefing and reckless announcement of new leadership arbitrarily by a sponsored group that is alien to the coalition and to the party.
” It is rather unfortunate that at a time when we have a President, who has restored the image of the country and is developing the needed infrastructures, diversified the economy, improved food security, fighting against insurgency and corruption, developed social investment programs and youth inclusion in governance via his assent to the not too young to run act., but some people are ready to undermine these legacies and must not be tolerated.
” In the party today, we have a caretaker committee that has navigated the party from the brink of rancor, and steered the party onto the safe ground, and restored order in the party. Through; membership registration and revalidation, the constitution of the tripartite committee, contact and strategic committee, major election victories, the institutionalization of the reward system in the party, and the defection of governors and chieftains into the party.
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” Thus, rather than channel our collective energies and votes to supporting the fruitful efforts of the government and the party leadership that is determined to mainstream the youth in all its activities, including in the next NWC, NEC and indeed all statutory organs of the party, and governance, some youth members are mortgaging these opportunities to those who are clearly manipulating them”, Isyaku stated.
He disclosed that they acknowledge the democratic rights of all party members saying it is their firm conviction that the focal point of any such rights should be in the interest of the country, the party, and the people of Nigeria and in line with laid down processes and procedures available in the party structure.
The group carpets the cravings for power, selfish ambition, and desperation which has become the motivation for expressions of rights there is a need for Nigerian youths in the APC to be wary of such people who are clearly motivated by power-grabbing, which is the bane of the other party.
” What we need in the APC is a total departure from the old order into a fresh beginning for the youth in this party who are inspired by the leadership capacity of president Muhammadu Buhari and his excellency Governor Mai Bala Buni’.
