June 17, (THEWILL) – The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Friday, demanded that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should choose renowned academic-businessman and philanthropist, Dr Ibrahim Bello Dauda, as the Vice Presidential Candidate of the party.
NYCN, the country’s umbrella body for youth, said that Dauda’s choice would give APC robust mileage with Nigerian youths, who already feel alienated by other political parties that chose middle-aged and elderly candidates as their flag-bearers.
The resolution followed a Thursday all-night meeting of the NYCN National Executive Council that ended on Friday in Abuja.
“Our meeting was convened to caution the APC against making the mistake other political parties have so far made by neglecting the youths in their selection process for offices at the state and federal levels”, the group said in its communiqué.
Signatory to the communiqué, NYCN National President, Comrade Solomon Adodo, stressed that youth would have a sense of belonging in Nigerian politics and governance with a competent representative like Dauda emerging as the Vice Presidential Candidate of APC from the Kanuri stock in Borno State.
The communiqué said furthermore: “We as the umbrella body of Nigerian youth nationwide insist that Dr Ibrahim Bello Dauda (El-Dabi), a towering intellectual and administrator, having the much needed experience and exposure, be given this opportunity to represent our generation in order to facilitate the much-needed changes our country earnestly desires.
“We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to remember his promise to the youth. He must recall previous commitments he made about the youth stepping into governance in Nigeria. And it is in this regard that we request that the party should pick a very young, capable and ready Running Mate to complete the partnership between the generations of political players, in order to be assured of the total support of the youth.
“We commend Mr President for demonstrating uncommon leadership and statesmanship, by maintaining neutrality and upholding the finest principles of democracy, throughout the free and fair primary election. In doing so, His Excellency once again disappointed naysayers and negative political pundits who had speculated that he would anoint and impose a successor.
“His Excellency has always assured the youth that the reward for their support to your government and patriotism to their country is that you will ensure that they handle governance alongside the older generation. We believe you even now. And this is the time to demonstrate your noble resolve. It is in this regard that we request that you use your position as President of the country and the leader of the Governing Party to cause your party to pick a very young, capable and ready Running Mate to partner the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is to complete and complement the partnership between generations of political players and be assured of the total support of the youth for the APC.”
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
