Young Progressives Party (YPP) has challenged Nigerian youths to transfer energy dispersed on #EndSars protest to ballot revolution come 2023 general election.
Kwara state chairman of the party, Charles Olufemi Folayan, made the call in Ilorin, on Thursday while addressing Journalists during a peaceful rally to mark one year remembrance of the #EndSars protest.
According to him “You would recall that a year ago, Nigerian youth across the country spoke out loud and clear with one “SoroSoke” voice, against police brutality and bad governance. We expressed our anger and frustration, and demanded for a reset”
“Armed only with internet connectivity, social media skills, unity, collective purpose, and a burning passion for a better Nigeria, youth shutdown the nation and forced the Nigerian Government to promise the immediate disbandment of the notorious SARS unit and pledge reforms for officers of the Nigerian Police Force. With a purely egalitarian structure, youths provided security, legal and health services, entertainment and funds for the protest. There was no differentiation along religious or ethnic lines. Nigerian youth do not think along the lines of East or West; North or South. This is reserved for the deeply entrenched ‘political elite’ that have this country by the throat”
Saying further that “Sadly, the response from the Government was initially mute, but was finally loudly violent. We can never forget that many young Nigerians were injured, and lost their lives in the course of fighting for a better society. Let us make sure that the sacrifice of these fallen heroes was not in vain. We must see the EndSARS protest as proof of our power and capacity to rebirth Nigeria”
“It is based on our understanding of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that the only way to bring about change in a democratic setting is to participate in the political process, and governance structure. That was the reason the Young Progressives Party (YPP) was formed. YPP is a genuine platform for new generation leaders who are in politics to serve the people, not themselves”
Charles, however challenged Nigerian youths to transfer the energy to ballot revolution come 2023 general election and elect credible people with new ideas.
“Let us stop recycling leaders who are leading us nowhere, who are either too old, too sick or too weak (morally). Let us work together in YPP to usher in credible leaders with new ideas, innovation, energy, and intellectual capacity. Leaders that would galvanize the productive skills of the youth to generate solutions”
Warning that, present youths are the generation that will inherit this country, said “we have to save her first. It is clear that the challenges facing Nigeria and Nigerians at this moment in time can not be solved by our lamentations on social media, nor can they be addressed by street protests. We must, therefore, move from the street to the ballot to achieve the YPP ballot revolution”
He, however cautioned young people to remain peaceful and continue to work for the peace and unity of Nigeria, saying “Let us be patriotic enough to obtain our Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and be ready to vote. Remember, there is no polling unit on the social media or on the street. If there is any justice in the world, our votes will be counted. And guess what? We are in the majority!”
