By Ahead of the December 5 Lagos East senatorial bye-elections, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Lagos East, has declared its support for Tokunbo Abiru, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This decision was disclosed on Thursday by the Chairman of Lagos NYCN, Comrade Lekan Sulaiman at a session with the APC candidate in Ikorodu. The youth leader promises to mobilise youths across the senatorial district in support of Abiru.
In attendance were the sixteen NYCN coordinators from the five local government areas (LGAs) and 11 local council development areas (LCDAs) in Lagos East.
According to the NYCN Chair in his remarks, it became imperative for the youth council to endorse Abiru because he was the only one, of all candidates contesting the election, who deemed it necessary to reach out to the youth for the sake of meaningful engagements.
Lekan said this “is the first time a candidate singled out an engagement with the youth council in the history of elections in Lagos East and Lagos State as a whole,” while commending the APC candidate for his thoughtful resolve to engage with the youth.
”Permit me to start by appreciating you for the town hall meeting you facilitated the other time when you hosted the students and the youths. This is the first of its kind in the history of elections in Lagos East that a candidate will have an interactive session with youth. We sincerely appreciate the gesture,” he said.
The youth leader also mentioned the NYCN’s decision to work towards the realisation of Abiru’s ambition.
”Our purpose of meeting with you again is to pledge our support to your candidacy and create a relationship with you because we are committed to your project. Within us at the level of the council, we have decided that come December 5, 2020, we will go all out to mobilise, canvass and secure youth’s votes for you.”
He added: ”Though you have not sent us this message, on the part of the youth council in Lagos East Senatorial District, we have begun a door-to-door campaign for you. We are already speaking to our colleagues that come December 5, we are going all out for APC, not just because of the party affiliation, but also because out of the whole aspirant, you are the only one who created time to host us and listen to what we have to say.”
Equally, Lekan explained that the youth council was constrained to drum support for the APC candidate, following his tremendous support for the youth during the recent #EndSARS protest. He said Abiru
showed empathy, love and care during the protest as he regularly communicated with the youth.
In response, Tokunbo Abiru appreciated the youth council for its support particularly the 16 coordinators from the five LGAs and 11 LCDAs in the Lagos East, assuring them of quality representation when elected into the red chamber.
“I will not let you down, you can bank that. I thank you for the door-to-door canvassing, I believe you know the Party’s campaign has been localised as well. Why I will be more comfortable with the youth is because I believe it behoves on the people of my generation to encourage the upcoming generations by showing examples,” he said.
The APC candidate, who is a former Executive Director of First Bank Plc and former Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, stated his firm commitment to deliver quality representation to the people of Lagos East.
“I have not come into this journey by accident. I have come into this journey believing very strongly that I have accomplished a part of my life. I think it is worthy of emulation so that when you see the person talking to you, your hope and prayer is that I should be better than this person.”
To the APC candidate, he can’t afford to disappoint those who invested their support in him, saying he wouldn’t want to put his unblemished career to disrepute.
”I think given the way I have evolved, the chances are that I will not want to misbehave. I am not likely to go the way some leaders do. You know, I can not put 32 years of my work life in an unblemished career and at this time I want to lose it.
He told the youth coordinators, “I have much to lose than anybody can imagine. If I want to misbehave, I would have done that long ago, you know when you are younger and you make mistakes, it is easier to correct, as you grow old, it is more difficult.”
The banker-turned-politician said he is aware of the challenges faced by youth and promises to facilitate legislation towards resolving them.
”I am mindful of the challenges of the youth which is unemployment. I will facilitate legislation that will bring about the ease of doing business, support enterprises to grow, infrastructure development, security and power generation that will aid youth engagement and employment.”
Abiru reminded the youth to stay safe as the pandemic is still very much around. He said, ”Remember there is till COVID-19, remember to tell your colleagues to use their unbranded masks when going to vote. It is important we stay safe while exercising our civic responsibility.”
The youth coordinators and the APC candidate later engaged in recreational activities by playing some games together.
