Youth leaders of the All Progressive Congress in the Southwest have kicked against the alleged plan by some leaders of the party to shift its February 2022 National Convention.
Speaking in Akure on Monday, acting South West Youth leader, Kolade Paff Lawal said that the national leaders of the party should not accede to those suggesting the postponement of the convention.
Lawal was accompanied by the Acting Deputy National Youth Leader, Afeeze Bolaji Repete, Ondo youth leaders, Ayodele Olawande, Osun, Adegoke Akinwemimo, Ogun, Babatunde Aremu, Oyo, Aremu Oyetunji, Ekiti, Asekun Sunday and Lagos state, Seriki Muritala.
Lawal also warned the party leaders not to compromise on the kind of and calibre of persons who should aspire for leadership positions in the party’s forthcoming convention.
According to him” Those pushing for a postponement of the convention date were familiar progressive voices who do not mean well for the party.
He called on the party leadership to consider competent youthful that are not above 50 years into membership of the new National Working Committee.
His words: ” we commend the party leadership in the southwest for all the good work they have been doing to ensure party unity as well as meaningful service delivery, through good governance, to the people. In this respect, we wish to particularly thank all APC Governors in the southwest.”
He stressed that, we the youths of the APC in the southwest states are already looking forward to February for the conduct of the national convention, adding that, wee are upbeat and are already mobilizing massively ahead of the convention.
“We ask the party leadership not to listen, let alone accede, to the cacophony of sponsored suggestions in some quarters that the February 2022 date be still pushed forward to a later date.” He noted.
He said the people making this dangerous suggestion are familiar retrogressive voices who do not mean well for our party, noting that, they and their suggestions should be thrashed in the dustbin of history.
The youths also said that ” young and vibrant party members should be allowed to take up strategic leadership positions in the forthcoming convention.
Lawal added that ” The party should look into the pool of youthful aspirants from among those contesting for key positions, such as National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, National Secretary, National Organizing Secretary, Zonal Vice Chairmen, National Youth Leader, National Woman Leader, etc., and assist competent ones amongst them to victory; for them to lead the party to victory in 2023 and beyond.