The Youth Liberation Army has responded to Hon. Danladi Chiya’s invitation to his critics for an open dialogue, challenging the APC candidate for Abuja South Federal Constituency to fix a date and time for the proposed engagement and prepare to answer questions from those who have raised concerns about his political record and ambitions.
The movement’s response follows Chiya’s recent call for his critics to come forward, engage him directly and brainstorm on practical solutions to the challenges confronting the people of Abuja South.
Chiya, a former Chairman of Kwali Area Council, had maintained that he was willing to listen to those criticising him and answer questions about his record, while urging his critics not to reduce political disagreements to personal attacks.
The Youth Liberation Army has now taken up the invitation, asking the former council chairman to move beyond the general invitation and announce a specific date, time and venue for the proposed public engagement.
A member of the movement who reacted to the development said Chiya’s decision to invite his critics into a public conversation could provide an opportunity for both sides to put their positions on record.
The member said that since Chiya had chosen public scrutiny, critics should take advantage of the opportunity to raise their concerns directly and also present possible solutions rather than simply criticising from a distance.
“Since Chiya has chosen a public scrutiny, which I think is a perfect opportunity for critics to come and speak and also bring solutions, for me, if there is a date, I will be there to ask just three questions,” the member said.
The statement has added another dimension to the growing conversation surrounding Chiya’s invitation, with the focus now shifting from whether critics should engage him to whether an actual date for the proposed meeting will be announced.
The Youth Liberation Army’s position also appears to challenge other critics and political commentators to move from online commentary to direct engagement, particularly if they believe they have substantive questions concerning Chiya’s record.
At the same time, individuals and content creators across Abuja South have yet to publicly state whether they intend to accept Chiya’s invitation or participate in the proposed engagement.
The development has therefore left the proposed public conversation at an early stage, with the next significant step expected to be the announcement of a date, venue, format and security arrangements acceptable to participants.
Chiya has previously said he is willing to make the invitation public and provide adequate security arrangements, while insisting that he has not threatened any of his critics.
The proposed engagement could consequently become an opportunity for both supporters and critics to put specific questions, claims and proposed solutions on the table.
For now, the Youth Liberation Army says it is ready to participate if a date is fixed, while other voices within Abuja South remain silent on whether they will accept the invitation.
The question now is whether Chiya will move from the invitation to fixing a date, and whether his critics will turn up when that date is announced.