Southwest PDP Youth Alliance

𝐏𝐃𝐏 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭:
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐃𝐏
𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟖, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐.

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐒


The gentlemen of the press,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
All Protocols observed.

1. In the spirit of commiseration, I humbly request for your one-minute silence in homage to all those who lost their lives since the inception of insecurity in the South West and Nigeria at large, especially our gallant officers who died serving our fatherland. May the dead enjoy blissful rest, Amen.

Today, we have all gathered here, as convened by the office of the Zonal Youth Leader to dialogue and chart a way forward in proffering solutions to the menace of issues that has bedeviled our beloved South West and our dear Nation at large and also to define our role as youths in nation building and our democracy.

3. Introduction-wise, PDP South West youths is a politically active youth group that is pro-Nigeria. We hold the sacrosanct unity of this great nation at high esteem, even as we clamour for equity and fairness. We serve as a garden where Patriotic and community-oriented young Politicians, are nurtured. It is a forum that brings Youth and young Politicians of Yoruba speaking states together, to form a formidable force in projecting the overall interests of the Youth and to champion the development of our various states through our political party, the PDP.

We strive to foster peace between South West Youth and the Youth of other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, in propagation of peaceful coexistence of all Nigerian Youth living in any part of the country, so as to promote the unity of this great Nation. Our structures range from the state level to the polling unit level as we have, in our organogram.

5. According to Martin Luther King Jr., “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

As a distinctive Youth body in the South West, we are so worried about the rising insecurity in our region, a region that was widely acclaimed for calmness and tranquillity. The unabated murder of innocent citizens, in a broad day, and continued attacks on the security agencies cm destruction of their properties and other state-owned properties, has discarded sleep from our eyes. It is quite perturbing, not just because it is an anomaly that contradicts our tradition, also because it is happening at a time we are on aggressive campaign for a national rebirth and the need for the best of us to lead the rest of us.
We condemn the inability of the present APC led Government to protect lives and properties which is the first duty of any serious administration. While president Buhari daily pay lip service to our collective security and unity giving empty assurances, Governors of the APC led states daily also puffer the Collective patrimony of their people for self preservation and perpetuation.

7. Though we have made publications and several press releases, condemning all these monstrous and disgraceful activities of the enemies of our highly cherished South West and our dear Nation, we believe that a more pragmatic approach will achieve better goals hence a summit such as this.

8. We – the Youths of Yoruba land traditionally, are peace-loving people. We cherish and celebrate peace. Though we hate being pushed to the wall, however, we can naturally give up everything just to entrench peace because, peace is for us a precious jewel. We have a sacrosanct respect for human blood as we unapologetically uphold the dictum that it is the prerogative of the Almighty God to give and take life. Suffice it to say that, true sons and daughters of Yoruba land abhor shedding of innocent human blood.

9. Compatriots, do we fold our arms and watch our beloved land desecrated with blood and our region turned to a war zone? This time, silence is no more golden! Paraphrasing Dietrich Bonhoeffer, I dare to say, “silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” Thus, it is time to speak up and proffer solutions! The continued silence amounts to collaboration with these heinous attacks. Enough is enough!

For us, it is time to come to a roundtable for veritable discussions on how to proffer lasting solutions to these menaces and our role as youths.
No party is enjoying this oddity, neither the security agencies nor us, except the enemies of the nation and sons of perdition. The indubitable fact is that, if we do not nip this monster in the bud, posterity will not forgive us for the impending consequences if this nation fails as it is been presently led. We have a duty as youths to take back our nation and that is best done Democratically.

The foreseen and unforeseen consequences of bad leadership will only make us strangers in our fatherland and we must possess our possession and lead from the front as youths.

It is on this note, therefore, that we decided to convene this summit. Youth should rise up against this hydra-headed monster that is brooding in our zone, it will be annihilated forthwith. No body and no force can match the united force of entire Youths, home and diaspora. Thus, the summit is for the Youth, by the Youth, and with the Youth.

It is our belief that this summit will avail the Youths an ample opportunity to interface with ourselves, during which any grievances shall be addressed and placated. It is also an opportunity to create good rapport between us as members of the same party.

14. This Summit is intended to bring the Youth of South West PDP together to;

a. Sensitize ourselves on the need to have strong belief in the unity of this Nation, even while we agitate and clamour for equity and fairness in appointments and developments.

b. Sensitize ourselves on the need to collaborate with the elders of the party.

c.) Sensitize ourselves on the need to be law abiding and employ lawful approach in combating insecurity and addressing our grievances.

d. Sensitize ourselves on the paramount need to restore peace and tranquillity in our beloved South West PDP family, which will attract developments and electoral victories.
e. Sensitize ourselves on the grievous disadvantages and consequences of beating war drums and heating up the polity. We should learn from the traumatic experience of Rwanda and the ongoing heartrending war in South Sudan. There has never been a joyful war just as there is never a bad peace.

f. Sensitize ourselves on the need for peaceful co-existence with the Youth of other ethnic nationalities. We need to understand that we fare better when we live in peace with other Youth of different ethnic and religious backgrounds. As a distinct people who thrive better outside our region, there is need to learn to dwell in harmony with others.

15. Revered ladies and gentlemen, it is time to speak up and proffer solutions! It is not a time of sitting on the fence; this time, silence is no more golden! “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”, opines Edmund Burke. Suffice it to say that evil thrives as a result of the silence of good people.
16. I, therefore, welcome everyone to this epoch-making summit, which I believe is a starting point towards restoration of tranquillity and calmness in our party at the zonal level and National, May we deliberate and dialogue with open mind, for the betterment of our society and progress of our dear country Nigeria through our party, the PDP.

God bless the Youths
God bless the PDP
God bless the South West!!
God bless Nigeria!!!

Seyi Bamidele,
South West PDP Youth Leader
28-07-2022