As the preparations for the 2019 general elections in Nigeria are in top gear, the national President of Young Visioneers Association of Nigeria (YVAN) and national coordinator of Coalition For Youth Governance(CYG), Mr Ezekiel Oladimeji, has submitted that failure of young political aspirants to come together and support themselves to produce a consensus presidential aspirant in the forthcoming 2019 elections may hinder them from achieving the much desired proactive youth president in the country.
Oladimeji stated this in his remarks in a statement he issued and signed during the international political summit held in Washington DC, United States, at the weekend, and made available to journalists.
Oladimeji who noted that more youths seem to vie for the number one position following the age reduction bill signed into law which has reduced the compulsory age requirement to run for public office in Nigeria, expressed concern that the the mission may not be accomplished considering the failure of some youths groups to accept a consensus candidate.
“With a good number of them jostling for the number one position in the country and the need to have common front, the young presidential aspirants have set out to unify their effort in pursuit of their political aspiration.
” However, it would seem that getting a single candidate for the same purpose is almost impossible as indicated by the recent responses of members of a group of young presidential aspirants which came together to elect a consensus candidate but refused to accept the outcome of their own process when the results were announced.
“It is rather unfortunate that failure to come together by such young political aspirants and accept to support each other at the polls in the next election might be indicative of lack of cohesion and may spell total failure on the part of the youths to produce the much desired young and proactive president for the country in the 2019.”
The YVAN national president also said: “For youth governance to be achieved in Nigeria, all young aspirants must come together so that they will not have divided votes.
He stated that failure to put aside personal sentiments and egocentric interest by any youth vying for public office would jeopardise the opportunity to realise the desired greater good for the number one seat in the country.
He advised that other young presidential aspirants should consider running for NASS instead as we need more intelligent young people as lawmakers.
Oladimeji said: “If we can recall, the plan to bring all young aspirants together was earlier initiated by Young Visioneers’ Association of Nigeria (YVAN) when she organised the first Young Presidential Aspirants Dialogue (YPAD) in April, where 14 young aspirants attended.
It will, however, be a shame if the youth cannot harmonise their differences and come together to work for a single unified purpose.
He urged every Nigerian youth to get involved in the electoral process by ensuring that they all collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVCs).
Source : Nigerian tribune
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