The Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has affirmed that youths no longer have an excuse not to take the lead in the 2023 election adding that the ballot should witness more young Nigerians vying for elective positions.
He said they have been legally empowered by the Not Too Young To Run Act signed into law by the President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) in 2018, which affirmed the whole essence of their constitutional and allied statutory freedoms.
The governor made this known on Monday at a 3-day retreat of young Nigerian Parliamentarians in Lagos themed ‘Youth Alliance Preparatory To The 2023 General Elections’ where he was represented by his Special Adviser on Youths and Students Affairs, Jubril Ogundare.
Governor Bello noted that The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was now in Conference Stage and decisions over the conduct of party primaries and electronic transmission of poll results must be concluded swiftly and honestly, with full regards for the applicable facts and realities of our modern age.
Governor Bello hailed the organizers for fronting such a bold and worthy theme which perfectly befits young individuals like them who have accomplished the near-impossible in Nigeria, contesting and winning elections into high public offices at a relatively young age.
He said, “A nation must be equitable and allow everyone to thrive on his own merits. Tribe, religion, class, age, gender or physical ability must not be used to discriminate against or marginalise anyone and civics must encourage cooperation and integration as a cardinal tenet of citizenship. We have to start substituting the place of residence for the state of origin and finding ways to immediately and brutally punish corruption in private and public spheres.”