The youth wing of the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led fashion of the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday in Abuja threatened a mass action against the Federal Government, which it accused of insincerity in the handling of the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Newly appointed Youth Leader of the ‘New PDP’, Mr. Timi Frank, said the attitude of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration towards the striking university teachers was indicative of the fact that the government had “lost track with the basic tenets of governance.”
Frank, who is also a special assistant to ex-Vice President Abubakar Atiku, threatened to mobilise 40,000 students across the country to protest against the government.
He spoke at a press briefing in Abuja while unfolding the plans of the PDP faction for Nigerian youths.
He said, “I am going to take this campaign up as the National Youth Leader of the new PDP. I am going to lead over 40,000 students to a protest against the present government because it has not done anything to demonstrate that the future of the Nigerian youth is paramount in its agenda. I have begun consultations with various student groups and we will unfold our strategies for the mass protest soon.
“University undergraduates are at home, but today nobody is talking about the situation, all what they are talking about is their 2015 ambition. PDP will not give any leader 2015 that will not stand by the youths of this country and that will not resolve the ASUU crisis. Anybody that wants to stand under the platform of PDP must show commitment to the plight of the Nigerian youth.”
Varsity gates have been closed since July 2 when ASUU commenced a nationwide strike over non-payment of arrears of its members’ allowances. The university teachers are also demanding improvements in infrastructure in the campuses.
Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said last week that the Federal Government would shut down if it decided to meet the demands by ASUU.
Frank said the only option to the government’s alleged intransigence was to organise students into a mass action against it.
“Since all entreaties to make government honour its agreement with the lecturers had failed, the only option left for anyone concerned about the future of this country is to mobilise the affected students for a mass protest. I have held numerous meetings with various student groups in the country for the mass protest.
“Before I became the National Youth Leader of the new PDP, I had been speaking against the injustice being meted out to the Nigerian students over the ongoing ASUU strike. I can assure you that this is an issue the new PDP will address,” he said.
He also declared as dead the Alhaji Bamanga Tukur-led faction of the party “because of the looming mass defection in the few days and months ahead.”
Franks also lambasted Tukur, blaming his alleged dictatorial style of leadership as largely responsible for the woes bedeviling the PDP.
He said, “The old PDP is dead; but the new PDP will do all within its powers to re-enact the ideals of the founding fathers of the party. I wish to address Nigerians today as the national youth leader of the new PDP with hope, fairness and its authenticity. I’m here to urge all Nigerian youth to remain calm.”
“We are trying to put an end to the new impunity in the PDP.
“The PDP under Tukur has brought crisis to the country. I want to let Nigerians know that Baraje has done it before and he will do it again. The idea of this new PDP is to take the party back to the ideals of its founding fathers. The PDP under the new leadership means well for Nigerians and Nigerians will be well catered for.”
“The task before us will not be easy. I urge all Nigerian youth to have faith in us. We will reform the PDP and bring stability to Nigeria. I know we will be intimidated by the security agencies. We will not relent. The cause of salvaging Nigeria from the grip of the old PDP is a battle of no retreat, no surrender.”
He told the security agencies to leave politics in the hands of politicians, saying, “the security agencies must not be involved in politics.”
“If the current crisis is not salvaged, the PDP will lose 2015 elections. That is why we’ve a new leadership. The suspension of Rotimi Amaechi was done under the old PDP. The new PDP has recalled Amaechi, he added.
Culled: Punchng