A group of misguided Youths, under the auspices of the Christian Youth Leadership Network (CYLN), ignored calls for power shift to the South by throwing its weight behind the presidential ambition of Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, saying he is the best and most capable successor to President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.
The group which made this known in Abuja on Saturday during the opening of its two-day National Retreat with the theme: “Kingdom Dimension: Effective Leadership and Governance”, which was convened by Apostle Faith Eches, said Bello is the epitome of good leadership as can be seen in his performance as governor of Kogi State.
They said a youth of Bello’s calibre in the 21st century Nigeria, is the kind of President that could actualise the collective dreams of Nigerians and address their challenges.
“Gov. Yahaya Bello, considering his leadership strides in Kogi State fits in perfectly for such role.”
He said the group’s choice was also in line with the thoughts of former President Ibrahim Babangida, who had said that the nation should be ruled by young minds within the healthy age that is less than 60 years.
“The 21st century has been encroached upon even by those who had said some 30 years or 40 years ago that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, which never came to pass.
“But today marks the epoch in the history of our nation, Nigeria, where the youth should come to the fore and master the destiny of Nigeria.
“Our very own person in the 21st century, who boldly challenges the conventional tides and customary patterns of method and procedures of doing politics in Nigeria, is Gov. Yahaya Adoza Bello of Kogi.
“We the youth of this country, under the umbrella of Christian Youth Leadership Network, represented from acrosd the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are saying Yahaya Bello is the best.
“We gladly, confidently and most assuredly bestow upon Gov. Yahaya Bello our choice of endorsement as the next President of Nigeria come 2023, by the special grace of God.
“The only right choice of President that can actualise the collective dreams of Nigerians in the face of our crucial realities is a sincere Nigerian, a compassionate leader and a passionate goal-getter. That is what we need as a people.
“Gov. Yahaya Bello is a Nigerian, a willing citizen and a servant of the people, who would rather not be served, but rather serve the country,” Eches said.
Arch. Bishop Jonathan Maji, Chief Missioner and Director, Springs of Life Resource Centre, said the choice of Yahaya Bello was because he had exemplified leadership in Kogi.
According to Maji, Bello has successfully collapsed ethnicity, ‘godfatherism’, and nipped insecurity in the bud to a certain extent, a prototype of expression of the Nigeria we all dream of.
“He has been able to pull a string that if given the opportunity, being youthful, there is something he can drive home at this time.
“That is why the Christian youths have come out to endorse Gov. Yahaya Bello,” Maji said.