2019: Group wants Saraki as Nigerian President
A coalition of Nigerian youth groups operating under the True Change Network of Nigeria Friday declared to agitate for Senate President Bukola Saraki to accept to run for the presidency in 2019.
The Coalition, in a communiqué issued after deliberations in Kaduna on Thursday, said it reached that conclusion after considering all remaining options in view of the evident failure of the APC administration to steer the country on the path of a viable and sustainable democracy.
Reading the communiqué to pressmen, convener of the coalition, Miss Grace Ilya Sarki said, the movement represents all sections of the Nigerian society cutting across region, religion, tribe, status and sex.
“We were motivated to search for a personality to back after assessing the journey so far, and agreeing that Nigeria is definitely not going on the right direction presently. Our current leaders have jettisoned all known democratic values in their pursuit for personal political supremacy at the expense of the overall survival of the nation,” Miss Sarki said.
She said, the Coalition, which currently made up of 22 women and youth organizations, shall reach out to other progressive minded groups across the country to mobilize support for this idea.
“It is a big idea and we intend to make it even bigger by extending our reach to other groups all over the country. If there is anytime Nigerians need to sacrifice all they can to save the nation and democracy, that time is now.”
Miss Sarki highlighted the various instances of what she called infringements on the universally acknowledged democratic norms by the current administration which she said should not be allowed to continue.
“We of this generation and the ones coming after us who are currently at the receiving end of everything that has gone wrong with Nigeria, stand to lose even more if we allow the cut throat power play by desperate politicians with unquenchable thirsts for retaining power at all cost to go unchecked.
“All over the world, the trend is for the younger generation that makes up the bulk of the population of every society, to decide who to entrust their fate with. It is no longer fashionable for those who have constituted themselves into a predatory class on condescends to manipulate the affairs of a people by taking power and misusing power.
“It is this concern that informed our quest for a trusted personality with the relevant political skill, doggedness and courage to lead this country to the democratic glory that has thus far remained elusive. And our search led us to the current Senate President Bukola Saraki whom we vow to persuade to accept to seek the presidency next year,” she sad.