From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
The Coalition of northern youths under the umbrella of Arewa Youths Assembly have said that they will do all that is politically required to ensure an emergency of a South-South candidate for the 2023 presidency.
The youths said their decision to shop for a South-South candidate who should be in the age bracket of 40-50 years was borne out of the fact that those northerners eyeing the seat are well above the age bracket, adding that the region had enjoyed the number national seat for too long.
Addressing a press conference yesterday in Kaduna, the leader of the coalition, Mohammed Salihu Danlami said it is grossly unfair and malicious for north to retain power beyond 2023.
Arewa Youths position on 2023 presidency was coming on the heels of northern elders forum led by Professor Ago Abdullahi that north can retain power for 100 years.
According to Danlami, “The North have occupied the leadership position of the country since independence, more than any other region it is time for South-South Youths to produce the next President in 2023 to complete their 8years of leadership.
“Whosoever want to emerge must have a global inter-disciplinary perspective, must engage in long term empirical planning, have a strong communication skills, must be able to prioritise social justice and well-being over financial growth.
“We seek to redefine the role and leadership development process of the country, we are charting a new path to national rebirth to put an end to the issues of recycling old politician for leadership. Nigerian is a nation standing half in the light of progress and promise and half in darkness of injustice. We lived in a period of grave uncertainty.
“As things now stand, we have no idea where the nation would be heading to if the North retains power in 2023. The greatest challenge facing Nigeria today is that of leadership Nigeria needs a leader that the people can identify with and can inspire them to greater height.
“We are calling for power shift to the clam surface of the burning hydrocarbon the land of the South-South. We need leaders with vision and passion because sound and visionary political leadership is vital for Nigerian Peaceful Co-existence.
“Nigeria will be better positioned to achieve our collective ideal for peace and stability, development and progress when we have a youthful leader who is committed in prioritising the interest of the people and doing everything in his power to achieve these said goals while they have the mandate of leadership.
“With this timely intervention ahead of 2023 we are championing the course of youths within the age bracket of 40 to 50 years to lead Nigeria to the promise land. A vibrant youth who is detribalized, a youth who have vision enough to foresee the needs of the people and must be compassionate enough to match these needs with actions.
“For Nigeria to progress no time for experimentation, sentiments, tribalism or mediocrity, so, such a man must be strong enough, articulate and incorruptible, he must have a good sense of judgment, unquestionable integrity, be full of honour and moral courage. A leader who is mentally alert, knowledgeable, exposed, a brilliant bridge builder who is cosmopolitan, energetic, eloquent, competent and having a wealth of knowledge of the dimension of national politics as to place the nation and its people in a mainstream politics of leadership development and social advancement.
“The expectation of 2023 leadership is high, but we are constrained to speak up on the unnecessary distraction and our solidarity toward our fellow brother from South-South towards enthroning a new leadership in 2023. Our country belongs to all of us, as youths we have a duty to make it better and we have a duty to retire and stop recycling old politicians permanently.”
