The Young Progressives Party (YPP), Ebonyi chapter, has inaugurated a 21-member caretaker State Executive Committee (SEC) to pilot the affairs of the party for the next six months.
The committee led by Mrs Mercy Nwaogbala was inaugurated at San Diego hotels on Sunday in Abakaliki following approval by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Dr Sunday Opoke, the governorship candidate of the party in 2023 gubernatorial election in Ebonyi and leader of YPP in the state in a speech advised the new officials to see their appointments as a call to duty.
Opoke enjoined the committee members to put personal interest aside and work to actualise the collective goal of the party, which he noted was to make YPP a vibrant opposition that would be strong enough to take over power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
He further advised the officials to shun any temptation to engage in antiparty activities as such would not be tolerated stressing that antiparty activities constituted gross violation of the party’s constitution.
He emphasised that the party must strategise to take power in order to provide credible leadership to the people of Ebonyi.
He said: “If you must take power, you must strategise; you must be dynamic and play all your intelligence , taking power is not easy but, it becomes easy when men are committed.
“I believe that the men gathered here are committed and come 2027 YPP will lead Ebonyi; we are not saying that to impress you, already we are aware that they are having issues here and there.
“Why we are trying to address leadership issues early enough is so that we will not behave like them because we want to be sure that when people are coming to us , they are coming to us that we are matured.
“When they are coming to us they are coming that we are capable, they are coming to us that we have the potentials and capabilities to take power.
“So, if we do not express such capacity, then we are not doing party business; that is why as you have been inaugurated today, whom much is given, much is expected.”
Opoke pledged the support and loyalty of the members to the new leadership urging them to stay committed to their new assignment.
Meanwhile, Nwogbala, in an acceptance speech on behalf of the members of the SEC pledged to move the party to the next level and appealed for support and solidarity to enable the committee to succeed.
She noted that the duty of an opposition party was to make the ruling party through a constructive and virile opposition to deliver good and credible governance anchored on democratic tenets.
She emphasised that YPP under her watch would not antagonise the ruling party in the state but, serve as a watchdog to ensure that justice , rule of law and respect for the citizens’ fundamental rights were respected and upheld at all times by the government.
Nwogbala while assessing the performance of the Gov. Francis Nwifuru led State administration appreciated the governor for achieving a lot within his one year in office.
She, however, urged the governor to pay attention to grassroots social and infrastructural developments as well as create job opportunities for the youths.
“As the chairman of this party, I will make sure that I will move the party forward to the best of my ability; I’ll do my best to ensure that YPP will produce the next governor of the state in 2027, all we ask is your support and solidarity.
“We, as opposition will not engage in needless criticism to the ruling party but, will constantly serve as a watchdog so as to keep them on their toes to offer good governance and credible leadership.
“The governor has done well in his first year in office but, we implore him to prioritise youth empowerment and grassroots development to give people in our rural communities sense of belonging,” Nwogbala said.
