Youths, artisans, local government chairmen and associations yesterday urged Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to take them out of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They spoke in Ilorin, the state capital, during a meeting with the governor.
Ali Baba, who spoke on behalf of the youths said: โYour government has empowered and prioritised the youths. Therefore, the only structure we know in Kwara is (Bukola) Saraki. Everywhere you, our leaders go, we are with you.โ
Leader of the market women Idiat Lambe said: โTake us to where our welfare will be guaranteed and our expectations met.โ
Ahmed said: โWe are gathered here to consult with our supporters, market women, artisans, youths and women on how to guarantee our peopleโs interest and our stateโs progress.โ
He said the APC had failed them, adding that โOur leader Senate President Bukola Saraki will soon come home to announce where we will go. APC has not met our expectations.โ
The governor added: โStakeholders have come to tell us here today that you donโt want to remain in APC. You have told us that they have not met your aspirations as a people in APC. You have come to tell us that you want us to move on to a new platform that will give us room to meet our aspirations for the good of Kwarans.
โBy the grace of God almighty, you will have a response very soon and very clear. But one is as clear as crystal you the stakeholders have told us to move out of the APC and because we run an inclusive process, that is why we have come to sit here and seek your opinion which you have expressed.
โAnd certainly your decision is our decision. So whatever you want is what we will do. God will guide us aright.โ
The governor recalled how key stakeholders in the ruling APC in the state built the party in 2014 alongside other notable Nigerians with high expectations but were disappointed about the failure of the government at national level to address insecurity, economy and unemployment challenges confronting the nation.
He said: โEe formed APC together in 2014 with the hope to meet the needs and aspirations of the people in critical areas of our national lifeโ.
He said the leadership of the APC had failed to intervene on critical issues affecting the party and its members, pointing out that injustice within the party is unbearable.
