The secretary general of JURA, the youth department of the largest opposition party that the MPLA still allows in Angola, UNITA, Nelito Ekuikui, today accused, in statements to Lusa, the MPLA of instrumentalizing the National Youth Council, which is why it suspended participation in this body.
Nelito Ekuikui says that UNITA “is contesting the instrumentalization of the National Youth Council (CNJ) by the MPLA (party in power for 47 years), particularly by the President of the Republic (João Lourenço)”, also President of the MPLA.
The leader of the Revolutionary United Youth of Angola (JURA) considers that the CNJ “in recent years has deviated from its founding mission. It means that the National Youth Council today has become a mobilization movement to raise the image of the current President of the Republic and of the MPLA, which has the image completely down”.
Nelito Ekuikui specifically accuses the CNJ of establishing the “personality cult” of João Lourenço and of being the “supporting arm” of the Angolan President.
“The leadership of UNITA, an interested political party dedicated to power, cannot be part of an organization that legitimizes actions to maintain the power of the MPLA”, he stressed.
Nelito Ekuikui added that he considers rejoining the organization only when the CNJ “becomes a true platform for the defense of the rights of Angolan youth”.
“We are now going to appreciate it to see if they change. Then we’ll be back. If they don’t change, what are we going to do? I have to lead the Angolan youth, therefore, we are going to transform JURA into the platform capable of bringing together the Angolan youth in order to make the switch and allow the youth to be able to safeguard their rights, the right to work, the right to housing, the right to education” , manifested.
Nelito Ekuikui gave as examples of the instrumentalization of the CNJ by the MPLA the distribution of houses and money “with T-shirts the President of the Republic, conditioning the conscience (of young Angolans) to a sense of gratitude to the President of the Republic”.
IF EKUIKUI SAYS IT, SOMEONE BELIEVES
RIt is recalled that the then provincial secretary of UNITA for Luanda, Nelito Ekuikui, stated on September 16, 2022, shortly before taking office as deputy for the fifth legislature, that “it is important that UNITA be in the institutions”.
Invited to address a word to people who felt defrauded and understood that UNITA should not take office, Nelito Ekuikui stated that “time will help clarify, but it is important that UNITA is in the institutions, to better defend [o povo] and continue to make this journey”.
Nelito Ekuikui considered the result of the elections “forces all politicians to respect the people, because these elections demonstrated that the people have a voice”.
“And we’ve seen the arrogance disappear. So whatever the outcome [em relação ao apuramento dos resultados das eleições nacionais de 24 de Agosto e reconhecimento da sua legitimidade]Angolans should feel proud of the work they have done”, he added.
“We are obliged to dialogue more with the people, to stay close to the people, to meet their expectations. ‘Not always those who lose lose and those who win don’t always win’, is a phrase that is said around. That’s why I’m sure there are people with legitimacy to speak on behalf of this people and we have legitimacy”, added Nelito Ekuikui.
The head of the Galo Negro party also considered, at the time, that President João Lourenço’s inauguration speech was the “same” as always and that he sinned “essentially” by not referring to the holding of local elections in Angola in the future next, one of the biggest demands of the biggest opposition party in Angola.
“The President made the same speech [de sempre]. The President did not speak about local authorities. The President did not speak of what is essential. I was hoping for a speech that would indicate the guidelines for building a common future and [este] necessarily goes through the realization of local authorities”, he said.
“Depending on the results of these elections, there are several spaces where the MPLA no longer has the legitimacy to continue governing and only local authorities can confer legitimacy on others”, added Nelito Ekuikui.
The deputy and now leader of JURA also said he expected from the President “a speech of greater unity for Angola and for Angolans, a speech of greater non-partisanship of state institutions. But we also know that it is the Angolans who have to take this path”, he pointed out.
By the way, it should be recalled that regarding the possibility of UNITA being invited to govern in the electoral circles where it obtained victory in these elections, such as Luanda, Zaire or Cabinda, while the local elections are not held, Nelito Ekuikui understood that this is not “necessarily” adequate compensation, not least because, he added, “UNITA is not looking for spaces to govern in a party other than its own”.
“The important thing is that the President calls the municipal elections and that power is effectively conferred on us”, declared Nelito Ekuikui.
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