Emmanuel Kehinde,Ilorin
More trouble lies ahead for the All Progressives Congress, APC, after thousands of its former members under the banner of Kwara State Third Force, KSTF, fused into the Young Progressives Party, YPP, in Ilorin on Wednesday.
The coordinator of the KSTF, Abdulfatah Abdulrahaman, told newsmen at GRA, Ilorin, that the move became necessary after detailed search for a viable political platform showed that “only YPP fits the bill.”
“The political party we have chosen is a party that assures equal participation for all men and women, young and old, rich and poor.
“It is a party that ensures that the rule of law, equity, justice and fair play are its central ethos.
“Most importantly, it is the only party that has had the foresight to realise that Nigeria’s teeming young population, which is in the majority, are frustrated and have a burning desire to be heard.
” Nigeria’s youth also need a platform that will nurture them, and groom them for meaningful participation in politics and governance, he explained.
Accepting the KSTF, chairman of YPP, Charles Afolayan, said that the coming of the group was sign of good things to come.
The party chairman discribed KSTF as a formidable political group that would meaningfully impact on the party.
“We are delighted to receive these numbers of strong political players in Kwara State into our party. It is evident that they have seen the light ahead and have decided to join the true progressives party to fix Nigeria and Kwara State in particular,” Afolayan said.
He further promised that the party would revolutionise party politics in Kwara.
“YPP promises to put an end to recycling of incompetent people in power through our party’s agenda,THE BALOT REVOLUTION, and enthrone service-,oriented patriots for national development. If we can Fix Politics; we can fix Nigeria,” the party chairman added.
Until his joining the YPP, Abdulrahaman was a chieftain of the APC.
The coordinator had famously led the exodus of aggrieved members APC out of the party to form the KSTF at an elaborate ceremony on 19th of June, after the burning of APC emblems like its flag and brooms.
Taking journalists through memory lane, the politician recalled the disagreement with the ruling party in four points.
He accused APC of inability to demonstrate fairness, equity and provision of a level playing field for every member of the party.
He stated that the protracted intra-party crises had shown no sign of abating.
“In fact, the undemocratic way the APC’s ward congresses were recently conducted are a clear indication of an imminent collapse of the party in Kwara State,” Abdulrahaman stated.
Abdulrahaman added that the aspirations of Kwarans for good governance and overall development of the state could not be achieved under APC with the existing conditions.
“Excluding the majority of party members across Kwara State from exercising their legitimate rights during the membership registration and revalidation exercise was a clear signal that the current administration in Kwara State is not interested in securing a popular mandate at the next election.
“These developments have given cause for our collective decision to look for an alternative, viable political platform where every individual can participate fully in our state’s democracy,” the group coordinator further said.
Abdulrahaman appealed to political stakeholders and youths in the state to join up with YPP to build a formidable platform that would stand the test of time.
