By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
A massive crowd of Youths and women in Kogi State APC on Thursday, stormed Lokoja for a town hall meeting in support of Sen. Bola Tinubu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate and all the party’s candidates.
The crowd converged at Idri Nana Hotel in Lokoja for the meeting.
The group was made up of Youths and women from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
It was a carnival of sorts as members of the group were seen in different regalia, dancing to songs while others were singing and chanting songs in praise of Tinubu.
Addressing the gathering, the state Youth leader of the APC, Comrade Muhammed Uba Muhammed, said that the massive turn out of Youths and women for the town hall meeting had reassured the party of their commitment and dedication.
According to him, “this historic gathering will offer Kogi youths the opportunity to engage those who are seeking to represent them at different spheres of government in the forthcoming general elections.
“The theme of the town hall meeting is Youth and political participation in an evolving democracy “. The town hall meeting was organized at the instance of the State Youth Leader which was meant to brainstorm and strategize ahead of this year’s general elections.
Muhammed then charged the youths to put more efforts in mobilising party faithful to boost the chances of all candidates who are contesting on the platform of the APC in Kogi State.
“At this point, let me specifically thank the executive Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, for his confidence in youths through his administration. Gov. Yahaya Bello from the inception of his government till this moment has always given the youths the opportunity to serve”.
“Infact, no Governor in Nigeria has engaged youths in governance like our governor, no doubt, that he is the Nigeria Youth Ambassador,” he stressed.
In his keynote address, Governor Yahaya Bello who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Pharmacist Jamiu Asuku, said that the gathering was an attestation that Youths in APC are solidly behind the party.
“Today is an affirmation to assure the APC that Kogi youths are for Asiwaju.
He appealed to Nigerians to see that among the presidential candidates, that Tinubu remained the best in terms of competence.
“Since 2007 that Tinubu left office, he is still relevant in politics and power play in Nigeria because of his sagacity and the best thing we can do is to give him that support.”
On Muslim-Muslim ticket by the All Progressives Congress (APC), the governor allayed fears of Christians in the country, saying they have no reason to worry.
He urged Nigerian Christians not to be afraid of Islamisation, and marginalization in the national scheme of things in the country as a result of the Muslim-Muslim tickets presented to Nigerians by the ruling APC.
Governor Bello said the debate over APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket was unnecessary, insisting that what is most important is good leadership.
“It’s better to have a good Christian than a bad Muslim and vice versa and we should also understand the antecedents of anybody involved in a particular decision.
“If you go to Borno State and ask the Christian community there, they will give you an impressive account of Shettima when he was the governor.
Also speaking, the APC National Youth leader, Mr. Dayo Israel, urged the Youths to go to work to rally massive support for the APC and its candidates.
He said that anyone who had governed Lagos state would effortlessly govern Nigeria.
“Lagos is a 24-hour state and so anybody who has been governor in the state will not find it difficult to rule Nigeria.”
He challenged other presidential candidates to show their achievements to Nigerians.
At the event are: Representative Seyi Tinubu, Hon. Sunday Karimi, the Kogi West Senatorial candidate of the APC, Danladi Sulaiman Aguye, candidate for Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, market men, women, professionals and students.
Below are pictures captured at the event:
