By Uzoma Nzeagwu
The former candidates for the seat in the Senate, Dr. Chinedu Umeadi has revealed why the opted to join the Young Progressive Party, YPP.
He said that he was captivated in the leadership qualities displayed by late Dr Ifeanyi Ubah, his charisma and good followership of party members since the formation of the party.
Dr Umeadi who is now the party leader of YPP, spoke to news men in Awka Anambra State, during a one day workshop organized by the YPP to sensitize party stakeholders last weekend.
He promised to use his international contacts to work towards building a viable political party, assuring to carry all party stakeholders along, including the Executive, women, youths and elders.
He recalled events leading to his acceptance of being the YPP state leader, adding, ‘’I was captivated by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s style of membership in YPP, mobilization activities funding system and open door policy to all’’. He however expressed regrets, saying, ‘’Despite all Senator Ubah’s worthy contributions…, death later snatched him away.
“Having thought and considered what it will cost and why being consulted to become the YPP Anambra State leader, I further asked,” why and what are involved in holding such position, and having made wide consultations within my family, party members and friends before I arrived at a conclusion…, I then accepted and joined YPP”.
Continuing Umeadi popularly called Agunechemba (Abagana) identified what he called the role of a party leader to include, calling for meetings, mobilization activities, funding, leading by accepted examples among others, he added that running party activities also involved carrying the youth, woman, exco members and stakeholders, as well as party members along.
While lamenting on the outcome of the party performance in the last Anambra state governorship election, Dr. Umeadi noted, ‘’I felt disappointed in the last election results. I deeply reflected on what and where YPP had gone wrong, and how to move forward’’, even as he denied the rumors that he had left YPP. He warned against in fighting, and called for cooperation among members, insisting that the party has a strong vehicle to drive YPP to the topmost height in Nigeria’s politics.
Earlier, the National Secretary of YPP, Bar Vidiyeno Bamaiyi expressed joy at witnessing a large crowd of party members at the workshop, describing the Anambra branch as strongly alive, and very hopeful to win the fourth coming governorship election by November.
While hailing the roles played by the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah in strengthening the party in Nigeria, Bar Bamaiyi urged the YPP in Anambra to sustain the tempo and recreate their performance under Senator Ubah in 2018.
The Guest Speaker at the workshop, Dr Uzodimma Okafor identified some of the challenges facing political parties to include: illiteracy, poverty, lack of resources, mobilization of people etc.
In his paper with the theme YPP: ’The Anambra of our dream – Re-strategizing for a better future”, Dr, Okafor proffered solutions to the challenges as follows: ‘’ Establishing a strong political base by building a robust party structure, ‘’ Mobilizing people at the grassroots level, especially the women who will lift the party. Women are the engine house for building a viable political party’’, ‘Fostering strong relationship, ‘’ Resolving conflicts among members and ‘’Empowering party leaders, especially those who have the capacity, as well as maintaining party discipline
