- Party faults Buhari on ‘health challenge’ and Atiku on ‘corruption allegations’
There are strong indications that Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State may soon dump the ruling All Progressives Congress. The Point exclusively gathered at the weekend that the governor was sponsoring a group of northern youths, who were on the verge of registering a new political party.
The new political party, Young Progressive Congress, largely spearheaded by young politicians from northern Nigeria, has stepped up its registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission, as it expresses determination to seize power from “the old politicians come 2019, so as to move the country forward.”
A source within the new party, who asked not to be named, because of the sensitivity of the issue, told our correspondent that “the governor actually floated the party and asked us to manage it for him pending when the coast becomes clear to vacate the APC.”
The source described Governor el-Rufai as “a fearless politician, who is not scared of the backlash of quitting the APC whenever he so desires.”
“He is well aware that he will face persecution from the top, as he may be eventually suspended from the APC over what they may term as anti-party activities; but I tell you, el-Rufai is less bothered,” the source averred.
YPC, as prelude to its being registered by INEC come February next year, when the electoral body hopes to announce the names of newly registered parties, has fast-tracked most of its activities.
Speaking with our correspondent, acting North-West Publicity Secretary of the political group, Yusuf Abubakar Gada, said the YPC’s formation came on the heels of nationwide disenchantment with the existing order under the older politicians, stressing that the group was determined to mobilise young Nigerians to vote for an acceptable presidential candidate in the next general election.
The new political group has also given a clear indication that it will neither back President Muhammadu Buhari nor former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for president in 2019.
In its argument, the ‘party’ made reference to the need for Nigerians to field someone with “sound health,” which might have been a veiled reference to the recent health challenge faced by President Buhari. They also described the President as someone who might not be in tune with modern trends in a digital world.
Also, on an Atiku candidature, the group submitted that the ex-VP’s “personality has been over-bloated with ceaseless corruption allegations that almost make it difficult to align with him.”
While it has, however, been silent on its preferred presidential candidate, there are indications that the YPC could back el-Rufai for president.
However, el-Rufai of the ruling All Progressives Congress is 57 years old, but he may get a waiver on the 50 years age limit, once the YPC is registered.
On Saturday in Kaduna, YPC held its North-West zonal convention, and had earlier performed a similar rite for the North-East and South-East regions.
For the new party to merit INEC registration, it must hold zonal conventions covering the six geo-political zones of the country. Besides, it must also have verifiable party headquarters in at least 24 states of the federation.
But Gada said the party “is more than qualified”, having had its presence firmly established in 27 states across the six geo-political zones. The states are: Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa, Zamfara, and Kaduna (North-West); Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Bauchi and Gombe (North-East); Kwara, Niger and Benue (North-Central); Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo and Osun (South-West); Ebonyi, Imo, Anambra and Enugu (South-East); and, Cross River, Akwa Ibom and Rivers (South-South).
A source within the new group, preferring anonymity, however, informed our correspondent that el-Rufai was bent on promoting the party to the level of a regional party as a way of taking after former Lagos governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose Action Congress party of old was firmly in control in the South-West and some adjourning states.
He explained, “The calculation is that if the party succeeds in becoming a very big party, we may think of aligning with people of like minds and present el-Rufai to them in a mega party that may emerge from such an association, for president.
“But in the event that the party is unable to make a national impact yet, due to one factor or the other, we trust the governor to strengthen it and make it a party preferred by everyone in North-Western Nigeria and then re-run for the Governor of Kaduna State. But our hope is that other Nigerian youths will team up with us to liberate this country together and draft young, articulate and purposeful Nigerians into decision-making offices in this
country.”
Other sources also pointed at recent frustrations being expressed by el-Rufai, who is ill at ease over the existence of some cabal in the Buhari administration, who have fenced him out of the kitchen cabinet. This, a source said, was responsible for a letter he wrote to Buhari a year ago, to complain about the President being caged by some cabal.
“The governor had always thought of himself as a major stakeholder in the emergence of Buhari as President, but he failed to realise that he was not in the original Congress for Progressive Change to be considered as someone in the inner caucus. We all know how el-Rufai had been switching sides and aligning himself with whichever party or group that suited him at every given moment,” the source, in Abuja, told our
correspondent.
The governor had always thought of himself as a major stakeholder in the emergence of Buhari as President, but he failed to realise that he was not in the original Congress for Progressive Change to be considered as someone in the inner caucus. We all know how el-Rufai had been switching sides and aligning himself with whichever party or group that suited him at every given moment
Gada, however, praised Governor el-Rufai, for the support he had given to the YPC towards ensuring that it transforms to a full-fledged political party, saying most members of the party had agreed to peg the maximum age for its presidential candidate at 50.
Asked to react to certain posers on issues pertaining to the party, however, Gada and other top shots of the YPC, namely: Muhammad Rili, National Publicity Secretary (Strategy and Planning): and Muhammed Gidado, North West zonal chairman, had responded thus:
“The Young Progressive Congress, as a political party, will ensure total inclusiveness of every Nigerian in governance and policy making; as it firmly believes a presidential candidate has to be someone with sound health, commitment, and, above all, a selfless personality and
nationalist.
“Since the youthful population represents significantly more than half of the nation’s population, we strongly and confidently believe that someone not more than the age of 50 years should become our President, having absolute spirit of patriotism, dedication and commitment to nation building.”
But in the event that the party is unable to make a national impact yet due to one factor or the other, we trust the governor to strengthen it and make it a party preferred by everyone in North-Western Nigeria and then re-run for the Governor of Kaduna State
IS IT A PARTY BY THE NORTHERN YOUTH?
The principal actors, alleged to be working for el-Rufai, said, “The Young Progressive Congress does not understand what Northern Youth means and does not recognise the phrase in both its manifesto and Constitution; however, it tremendously believes in the existential uniqueness of Nigerian youths with vast unexplored potentiality for nation-building.
“So, to answer the question bluntly, the Young Progressive Congress is a national political party in the making, solely sponsored by Intellectual Young Leaders Network, an organisation with a clear mission and vision to sensitise Nigerian youths on the need to consider intellectual revolution for national cohesion and progression. So, our party is floated across the country with two million members, covering 27 states at the moment, which automatically makes it a national party.”
IN ALLIGNMENT, WHO WILL YPC BACK? BUHARI OR ATIKU?
The executives said, “Well, as for Atiku or Buhari, we think they are doing their best to serve and develop Nigeria. Muhammadu Buhari, 74 years of age, has governed Nigeria as Head of State and is now the President. Honestly, Buhari can be doing a great job as President, but in the digital world, everyone must act digitally and Buhari at 74, might not go well with the new approaches.
“Atiku Abubakar, 72 years old, has done immensely well in sustaining our democracy and safeguarding the Constitution during the Third Term saga of 2007 (in the era of President Olusegun Obasanjo). But his personality has been over-bloated with ceaseless corruption allegations that almost make it difficult to align
with him.”
They added, “While YPC agrees to improve on Nigerians’ lives through inclusive governance, we believe that if Atiku or anyone for that matter has a better project for Nigeria than Buhari, why not him? The intellectual mind does not limit its sight to today’s good , but it looks forward to a better day than what is available. So, at YPC, we will understudy what the Buhari project looks like for Nigeria, as well as Atiku’s, and then make the right alignment for the good of the country.
“But as a political party, we are even hoping to sponsor a candidate in the presidential election by God’s grace.”
YPC’S POSITION ON RESTRUCTURING
The about-to-be-registered political party said, before now, Nigeria had been in the process of restructuring “and we believe things will take shape as time goes on, naturally, and that is why we are mobilising the intellectual youths to fight internal colonisation
by the elite.
“If restructuring is truly about the future of Nigeria, the youths should be consulted and carried along.”
No response from
el-Rufai
Efforts by our correspondent to get the reaction of El-Rufai’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, on YPC’s claims, proved abortive.
Aruwan did not pick the calls made to his phone by our correspondent and also failed to reply the text message sent to his phone, as at press time.
