One of the leading aspirants for the national chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mallam Saliu Mustapha wants the ruling party to go a step further than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by opting for a younger, more vibrant politician to lead the party in the 2023 general election.
He said at a forum put together by the Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) in Ilorin, Kwara state, that the public reaction trailing the emergence of a 25-year old politician as PDP’s new national youth leader is a clear pointer to the national mood.
Mustapha who was represented at the event by the Deputy Director General of the Saliu Mustapha Foundation U.S.A. Balogun told the gathering that APC could easily ride on that wave with a youthful National Chairman with bright ideas.
“We have all seen the positive public reviews trailing PDP’s decision to install a real youth for the first time in its history as National youth leader so it is obvious what majority of politically active Nigerians want.
“It is exactly what we have been saying, In politics and governance, trade and business, sports, and particularly the ICT, there is a renewed vigor on the youths and their participation in nation building.
“We all need to seize the moment and make the best use of it. Like I said in a recent public discourse, it’s youths o’clock.”
“So we believe APC can do better than its biggest political rival by going for a young politician with the type of experience we have in managing party structures as the next national chairman.”
Mustapha who is also the Turaki of Ilorin hailed Kwara state Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for being a great ambassador of youth inclusiveness in governance while urging young political office holders to show good example by living up to expectations.
“There is no better evidence that the youths are now being sought after for solution and leadership than what the present government in Kwara state is doing in terms of youths inclusiveness in governance. In recent past, I do not think there’s any government that has offered the youths a quality platform to shine than the APC-led administration in Kwara state.
“The least you owe the brain behind this revolution, Mallam Abdulrahaman Abdulrasaq, is to be dutiful, diligent, trustworthy and responsible in any role assigned to you. This is why one is not surprised that Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq is being honoured today with the youth friendly award,” he added.
The one-time Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is the youngest of all the chieftains of the ruling party that have indicated interest in being the party’s national chairman.
