Speaking with Independent, Alhaji Yakassai urged that political parties in the country must be reformed, be oriented through ideologies, programmes of what they want to do for the people so that people will begin to appreciate and respect them.
According to him,
The elder statesman who frowned at the rate at which party leaders are being disrespected, blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo whom he said, was responsible for whittling down the powers of elected party leaders and their structure.
This, as it is known, has led to the party chairmen across all platforms and at the various tiers; ward, local, state and national levels, to their being unable to control and direct the affairs of the various political parties.
“You cannot become a messenger, chairman or even a secretary of the party, without the blessing of either your governor or the president. So, the party members, rather than respect party leaders, give their alleigance to the president or governors whom they feel are the only people they need.
“The first thing we should do, is to take back that power and return it to leaders of the party. With that, party members would respect their party leaders, attend meetings and this would give the party a direction and, the members sense of belonging.
“He has only the name of National Chairman. He has no powers, he s empty, the partymen know that their party leaders are empty.
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