We're a party for the future, Party reacts to Pulse 'criticism'
The party said it is not a short term fix to the country's political problems.
Recommended articles
The party disclosed this in reaction to an opinion article published on Pulse Nigeria on Monday that dismissed the party's chances in the 2019 general elections due to lack of momentum.
In a signed statement directed at the writer of the article, the new Public Relations Officer of the party's Lagos State Executive Council (SEC), Abhulimen Marvins, said the party is committed to proving the doubters wrong by being the first of its kind.
He explained that the party is not a short term fix to the country's political problems but one that needs the help of other Nigerians to grow into something they can be proud of.
ADVERTISEMENT
He also extolled the party's progressive ambitions and zeal to move away from the old order of doing things in the country's other political parties.
The statement read, "Dear Samson T., the members of the newly inaugurated Lagos State Executive Council of KOWA Party received your article titled "KOWA Party Is Not Ready To Be Taken Seriously In 2019" in good faith with an understanding of where you are coming from as a Nigerian youth who is eager for quick solutions to Nigeria's problems.
"However, we must remind you, as our brother, that to build a great house you need a strong foundation as there are no shortcuts to true success. KOWA Party is not a party for 2019 or the short term but it is here for the long term and prepared to provide Nigerians with a credible and viable alternative to the status quo as a first of its kind in our political space.
"In your hurry to discredit our efforts as a party you missed the opportunity of educating your readers that people make political parties and KOWA Party is a party they can join in two minutes and be an equal stake holder with all other members as we proved that beyond all doubts in the transparent and smooth conduct of our congress and its elections where registered members who couldn't make it to the venue were able to vote!
"We are the first party in Nigeria if not Africa to have scrapped the delegate system that is open to abuse and manipulation by the "OWNERS" of the other political parties, this transparent manner is what would be used in selecting our Presidential, Gubernatorial and other candidates in the run up to the 2019 elections!
ADVERTISEMENT
"Is that not a good enough reason for Nigerians to take the party serious? A party where they can be involved in deciding who actually ends up on the ballot, it is an open secret that if Nigerians were to have their say on Presidential primaries in this country all our past Presidents wouldn't have made the top 10 of the Nigerian choice!
"We acknowledge our shortcomings as a party of realistic idealists but we don't dwell on them, instead we are fired up by the zeal and commitment of our members which you can attest to from your experience at our congress, maybe you are unaware that from that "scanty" hall more than 20 new members registered and paid their annual dues as they pledged very strong commitment to take the KOWA gospel to their community.
"As a team, members of the KOWA Party Lagos State Executive Council have taken your article as a challenge and we are now more determined than ever to prove you and those who share the same sentiments with you wrong as we move towards 2019, in this vein we remind you that our mantra as a Party is "Together We Make A Difference" and invite you to join us in changing the story of our nation so that you can make your contributions beyond criticising but instead join in making Nigeria a better place."
Below is an excerpt from the original article:
There's no doubt about the fact that there are Nigerians that believe in KOWA Party as a force that should be reckoned with.
ADVERTISEMENT
At the Lagos Congress, I observed Nigerians, young and old, express a desire to see the party rise above its limitations and deliver on its promise of being an untainted alternative to the status quo that's driven the country to the edge of ruin.
From party members to state executives, to the national executives, the ambition is well-intentioned.
Professor Remi Sonaiya was also at the Congress on Saturday, and remained as resolute as she was in 2015 that the party can engineer real change for the country.
It is distasteful that despite the fact that she has been one of the most consistent voices of opposition since 2015, she remains largely unknown in the country's political arena, and her stock has remained largely unchanged from when she won a measly 13,076 votes three years ago.
Her educated voice, under the misadventures of KOWA, has unfortunately been suppressed into barely a whimper which won't afford her any chance of being a formidable candidate next year.
ADVERTISEMENT
There's no doubt that Nigerians yearn for a departure from the very familiar political class that has haunted the country's political halls for decades, but that Third Force remains elusive.
Over the past three years, KOWA has found a way to be mentioned in the conversation Nigerians have been having about alternative options that are credible enough, but the party has not done more to be any more relevant than that.
The stiff lesson to learn from KOWA's Lagos Congress is that, despite the party's best efforts, it is still a gathering of well-meaning amateurs running around like a headless chicken in a field of blood-thirsty giants.
The party may continue to build at its own pace, but it does not appear to be ready to make the leap onto the podium and transform into a worthy competition by 2019.
The KOWA movement is a commendable job being done by a group of Nigerians determined to engineer their own destinies with their own hands.
ADVERTISEMENT
But, like Feranmi himself said, changing Nigeria is a marathon; it won't be achieved by wishful thinking or professions of good intentions.
At the rate KOWA Party is heading into the 2019 general elections, it simply is not ready to be what it needs to be.
You can read the entire original article HERE.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Comparing comprehensive vs third-party auto insurance in Nigeria
Kaduna Speaker to El-Rufai's son: Your threat won't stop us from probing your father
Makinde demolishes building where Yoruba Nation agitators operate from
APC chieftain, Lukman faults NWC for backing Ganduje over suspension
EFCC gets permission to drag ex-governor Yahaya Bello to court tomorrow
Court stops EFCC from arresting Yahaya Bello hours after agents surrounded his house
Tinubu hails Dangote's diesel price cut, expects economic boost
'Is this relevant?' - Nigerians react as Gov Adeleke signs bill for new Osun State logo
Why donated blood is not free for patients
Pulse Sports
Lionel Messi's son breaks the internet after scoring five goals for Inter Miami
Naija Stars Abroad: Onyedika, Boniface, and Osimhen shine across Europe
Victor Osimhen and Tobi Amusan make list of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Class of 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
![Ganduje, Kwankwaso [Facebook]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Ganduje, Kwankwaso [Facebook]")