By Jimoh Sulyman
The former Senate President, Sen. Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, a leading hopeful for the seat of presidency has seen his stock continue to rise in the build up to the coming general elections in 2023.
This was deduced after the regional socio-cultural group, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) stated its intention of ditching any presidential aspirants above the age of 60 ahead of the 2023 Presidential election.
Premising on the groups statement, it is apparent that the group will be throwing its weight behind a relatively younger candidate at the next general polls, a description that Saraki fits into along with the likes of Aminu Tambuwal, the Sokoto state Governor.
The former Governor of Kwara State, Saraki in recent times has been enjoying massive support from the youths of the country across different zones of the country.
According to Daniel Atok, a youth from Benue state who spoke to National Pilot in Abuja, “Bukola Saraki has a very good vision for the country, if he is opportune to be the president of this country come 2023, I will be so delighted and I think he will be able to solve many of our National problems”.
In the same vein, Abdulfatai Adeyemi from Oyo state, “Saraki is really the man for the job, we all could see what he did while he was the Senate President and how he defended the democracy of the country”.
That wasn’t an isolated event, if you recall in April, Saraki was also endorsed by the Katsina State Youths Network (KSYN) to contest for the exalted seat under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
When the Leader of Katsina Youths Network, Abubakar Nuhu Adam said that the endorsement of Saraki was formally done in Daura, hometown of President Muhammadu Buhari as a sign of “politics without bitterness”.
In reminiscent of the recent occurrence at the just concluded PDP National convention at the Eagles square in Abuja, where Saraki was the toast of the youth folks has he was seen being hailed by the teeming youths present at the event.
On the heels of the Convention that produced a 25 year old Sulaiman Kadede as the National Youth leader of the PDP, and achievement that had the support of Saraki, which was brought to fore when Kadede paid a courtesy visit to the residence of the arch legislator.
According to Yerima Shettima, the president of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), the group has ruled out the possibility of supporting any presidential aspirant, who is above the age of 60 ahead of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.
Yerima said he is in support of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida’s (rtd) statement that Nigerians should look for a younger person as their president in 2023.
Speaking with journalists on Saturday, November 6, Yerima said; “We have made our position very clear that we will not pitch our tent with any old generation. This is not because it is not their right to contest, but you can rest assured that we will only campaign for young generations.
“We will be looking forward to those that are in their 40s and 50s.
“We have been sensitising the youths on those who have been recycling themselves over and over again without being able to provide answers to our issues.
“So, we want to, for once, do it for ourselves and I am sure we have the strength to do it. We are looking inward for capable hands in the younger generation this time around,” he said.
On restructuring, Yerima said: “I have been talking about this overconcentration of power and if we continue to do this, we will continue to have funny people with funny characters occupying some of these political spaces.
