Over 707 ethnic nationalities youth leaders across Nigeria have thrown their support behind President Bola Tinubu for a second term, while calling for a constitutional amendment to introduce a single seven-year tenure for all elective offices.
The youth leaders made the demand at the 1st All Nigerian Ethnic Nationalities Youth Conference 2025 held in Abuja, themed “Emboldening a New Nigeria of Our Dream.”
Convened by Aare (Barr.) Oladotun Hassan, President of the Nigeria Youth Coalition (NYC), the event marked the 30th anniversary of Ken Saro-Wiwa’s execution, honouring his legacy as a defender of environmental justice.
In his keynote, Hassan described Nigeria’s current political structure as a “ritual of endless elections” that hinders governance and drains the economy.
“We are proposing a single, seven-year tenure for all elected officials beginning before the 2027 elections,” he said. “This will help leaders focus on governance and national development rather than endless campaigns.”
The youth coalition unanimously endorsed President Tinubu as a “symbol of democratic continuity,” praising his resilience in steering Nigeria through economic turbulence.
They also urged the Federal Government to support private investors, particularly the Dangote Refinery, by granting it direct crude supply access to reduce fuel prices to as low as ₦200 per litre.
The conference featured the 100 Heroes of Democracy Awards, honouring figures including President Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and Ken Saro-Wiwa (posthumously).
Beyond politics, the youth coalition demanded the drafting of a New People’s Constitution, a 35% budget allocation to Education, 25% to Youth Development, and 15% to Traditional Institutions, alongside the creation of a Federal Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs.
They further called for amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to increase host community benefits from 3% to 30%, and proposed the creation of National Agricultural Economic Development Zones to fight food insecurity.
Hassan also reaffirmed the youths’ rejection of any calls for military rule, stating: “It would be absurdly crude and undemocratic for anyone to advocate a return to military governance. Tinubu and others fought for this democracy, we must never betray that struggle.”
Concluding, he stressed that the proposed seven-year single term would “give leaders time and peace to deliver” and help build a Nigeria “where performance defines leadership.”
