•As Buhari says government impacting all regions with infrastructure
By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni, yesterday said the party’s interim leadership inherited a collapsed political party, ravaged by crisis of all kinds.
This is just as President Muhammadu Buhari also said there is no part of the country that has not been impacted by one infrastructure or the other by the APC led government, depending on the needs and peculiarities of the region.
Speaking at the first APC National Youth Conference on the theme, ‘The Future Is A Decision’, which held at the International Conference Center (ICC) in Abuja, Buni said the party is undergoing complete rebirth, recovery, rehabilitation, rejuvenation and repositioning, hence the conference is holding at an auspicious time.
Buni said the future of APC and Nigeria generally depends on the youths, for which reason the CECPC cannot afford to discard the young people in the scheme of affairs, adding “We must invest in the youth for a better future for the party and country. Therefore, this conference and theme are both strategic and timely for a prosperous future for the party and our beloved country.”
Recalling how internal crisis of APC gave birth to the caretaker Committee, Buni said “I am pleased to say that collectively, we have rescued a troubled party that was heading towards imminent collapse and disintegration, to a very strong, solid, reliable and ever growing political party.”
Speaking further, Buni commended the APC youths for cooperating with the party by remaining united to its course during her turbulent times, which he observed has translated into the rebirth of a new APC that gives every member a true sense of belonging and pride as Nigeria’s leading party and Africa’s largest political party.
“This also explains why the Caretaker committee under my leadership took a deliberate position of engaging the youth in every process. As part of our strategic approach to youth engagement, a committee on youth, women and people with special needs was constituted during the membership registration and revalidation exercise.
“I am glad to say that reports reaching my office indicated that the active roles played by the youth contributed massively to the success of the membership registration and revalidation exercise. The decision for the future of this party and country cannot be at any other time better than now when the corporate unity and security in the country are being challenged.
“You should therefore exploit all available opportunities to assiduously work towards promoting national unity, democracy and dialogue. I assure you of the support of the party in investing in the unity and future of Nigeria”, he said.
He promised that the CECPC is making efforts to approach the proposed congresses and conventions with a united front to produce a strong leadership that would enjoy the support, trust and confidence of all members, and protect party interest above personal and primordial interests for unity and prosperity.
President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said the APC government places a premium on the development of Nigerian youths economically and politically, even as he recalled signing the #Not too young to run Bill, into law to remove all hindrance for the youths in contesting any electoral position.
While admitting that there are some security challenges across the country, Buhari said no criminal who has taken arms against the country would be spared, pointing out that results of such aggressive campaigns against criminals are already manifesting.
To this end, he charged the youths on the need to put behind the bitter experiences of the past, and ensure with one another irrespective of tongue, tribe or religion and work towards moving the country forward.
Speaking also at the conference, the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, challenged Nigerian youths to stop procrastinating but to take action to wrest power from the ruling elites.
He emphasized the need for the youths to be focused and rise to take their rightful place in the political scheme of the country, cautioning that power is taken and not given. He said the life and future of the country are in the hands of the youths.
“There should be industrial revolution, I traveled to China and I saw smoke everywhere, they are producing one thing or the other, but the only smoke you see here in Nigeria is that of Ishiewu”, he said.
