Thousands of young people have pledged support for the presidential ambition of Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi State in north-central Nigeria.
The youths, who stormed Calabar, the Cross River State capital, south-south Nigeria, came from states within the region and south-east to launch the Rescue Nigeria Mission, RENMISS Project, a platform for increased sensitization of other young people on the readiness to install Governor Yahaya Bello as the next president.
Speaking, the south-south coordinator of RENMISS, Mr. John Akainza, promised Governor Bello the unflinching and unconditional support of Nigerian youths.
Changing the narrative
Akainza stated, “We will shock money politicians and show the world that we can install our own in Nigeria. Let the core politicians do theirs; it will be the first time in the history of Nigeria that we will change the narrative.
“It is amazing to see how much everyone wants Governor Yahaya Bello to be there. People have seen how different he is from the pack. I am glad to tell you that as of today, he is the only governor who has said it as it is even in the face of pressure. Everyone must strive to join in making history in our great country,” he urged.
Similarly, the southwest coordinator of RENMISS, Bolanle Ninolowo, said, “on Yahaya Bello, we stand. This is the only candidate Nigerian youths have; in Kogi State, he has shown that our tomorrow is here. We do not want to be perpetual leaders of tomorrow, but leaders of today.”
Taking the stand
The keynote speaker at the gathering and Chief of Staff to the governor of Kogi State, Mr. Abdulkareem Asuku, commended the youths for taking the stand to create the Nigeria of their dreams.
“Nigeria cannot continue to be stagnated. 2023 is the turning point for youths to shun the attitude of mortgaging your political participation by calling on Governor Yahaya Bello to join the race for the number one citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to salvage the situation come 2023,” the Chief of Staff said.
According to him, the governor has the capacity and requisite quality to tackle widespread corruption instill high-level indiscipline, insecurity, disunity, and other vices, which negatively impact the country.
“Before the governor came to power in 2016, they described Kogi State as the center of insecurity. But today, the state is the safest in Nigeria, courtesy of the leadership style and doggedness of Yahaya Bello. Today, the people of Kogi are more united than ever before.
“He is running an open government system; and his accounting system is transparent that the World Bank rated Kogi State as number one, the record is there. For a man, who became governor at the age of 40 and has empowered the youths and women, he is the man Nigeria needs to take her rightful position amongst the committee of nations,” Asuku stated.
He assured Nigerian youths that the governor would not disappoint them, urging young people to be law-abiding eschew violence and thuggery like Yahaya Bello, who became the governor by dignifying and positioning himself with the requisite quality and character.
“We are calling on the youths to shun all forms of sentiments in choosing the next president. The youths should come all out and collect their PVCs, which is the only ticket we need to challenge the status quo; to tell these senior men that the time is up, the game is over and the youths are ready. Yahaya Bello is our torch bearer,” he added.
