BY MAYOWA SAMUEL
Youths from the South-Western part of Nigeria have trooped out in support for Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State in his bid to contest for president come 2023.
The youths under the aegis of GYB2PYB Support Group in the region gave the endorsement on Wednesday during the South-West Youth Political Conference, themed “Towards a Youthful Political Consciousness and 2023 General Elections”, held at the Grandeur Event Center, Oregun Lagos.
Speaking on the need for the conference and the call for the youths’ support of Governor Bello on his presidential aspirations, the group’s Director-General, Oladele Nihi said: “The objective of the conference is to conscientise Nigerians, especially the on the need to support youth presidency come 2023.
“Before 2021, it was very phenomenal that the man Yahaya Bello has become an issue (centre of attraction) in Nigeria as a result of his performance in Kogi. Today, over 90% of political appointees are below 40 years. For instance, the current Chief of Staff to His Excellency, Yahaya Bello, becomes DG at the age of 32. Now, he is crawling into 36 as the CoS.
“Hence, if we can have CoS heading a sensitive position at the age of 36, it will be a good deal to have a youth leader like Yahaya Bello as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Asking Nigerians around the world to join in supporting Governor Bello’s aspiration, Nihi added, “What we need in 2023 is a young man, youthful and useful governor, pragmatic leader with a proven track record, someone who we can look up to as an ambassador of the Nigerian youths, and we are proud this young man is the person of Alhaji Yahaya Bello.”
The programme recorded huge attendance by members of the GYB2PYB Support Group from the six states of the South-West as well as other dignitaries including the governor’s Chief of Staff, Jamiu Asuku, the State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, amongst others.
On his part, Asuku revealed that the governor’s main intention for aspiring for presidency was to unite the country just like he has united the major ethnic groups in Kogi state during his administration.
Asuku added that the governor’s declaration of his intention was also “a clear sign to show that the youth of this country is fully ready to take our rightful position,” while urging Nigerians not to choose the next president on the basis of religion which he called a distraction.
He further urged youths to shun cybercrime and to join politics and stop “electing retirees to come and decide the fate of over 200 million youths of this country.”
