PDP youth want party to change name, merge with others

A youth group within the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, known as PDP Youth Frontier, PDPYF, has called on leaders of the party to earnestly consider merging with smaller parties and changing its name.

The group made this position known in a communique on Monday in Abuja, after a meeting of its National Working Committee.

The communique, signed by the group’s national coordinator, Austin Okai, said if the PDP is to make any headway in the 2019 elections, it must “put its house in order”.

The PDP youth said that “in the past 2 months, several consultations and shared ideas have pointed to the fact that for the PDP to regain power at the federal level come 2019, a total overhaul of its entire system must occur. Ensure discipline and expel the members undergoing criminal investigation including NWC and BoT members”.

The group said the national headquarters of the party must in its overall interest provide such a playing ground for all aspirations to thrive within the party.

“Nigeria is currently at a crossroad such that only a strong sense of leadership with purpose can return the country to the path of economic prosperity, progress and unity which it may have deviated from,” they said.

The group also said the ongoing war against corruption and graft by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, “is wholly a welcome development that is long overdue. However the war must be executed with regards to the constitutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria above anything else”.

The youth called on Mr. Buhari to widen the scope of the war against corruption and make it all inclusive.

“The EFCC and President Muhammadu Buhari’s led federal government must engage Nigerians and update them on how much of our looted patrimony have been recovered so far. Dedicated accounts wherein the funds are deposited for safe keeping should also be disclosed be it in the custody of the CBN or EFCC.

“That there is an essential need for proper separation of powers. The Judiciary is urged to stand firm and defend the right of Nigerians according to legal provisions without resorting to technicalities to protect unpatriotic citizens from punishment.

“The Chief Justice of the Federation must therefore charge legal practitioners to abide by the ethics of their profession as there is enormous danger in impunity and human rights abuses including the ones perpetrated by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The legislature must live up to its bill in checking the excesses of the executive at all times as the 2016 budget saga has shown that there is an urgent need to closely guide and monitor the activities of the presidency and some political greenhorns serving as aides holding sensitive posts,” the group said.