Kogi 2023: Youths, Students Leaders Backs APC’s Ododo/Joel »

As the race for the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State gathers steam, youths and students leaders of the apex youth body in the country National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Kogi state chapter, the National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee (NANS-JCC), The Igala, Ebira and Okun students unions, has endorsed Alhaji Usman Ododo for governor.

This endorsement was declared Friday in Lokoja the state capital during an interface with the youths and students leaders in a meeting championed by the Ododo Youth Mobilisation Center.

The Director General of the Ododo Youth Center, Amb. Oladele Nihi said the meeting was imperative to allow the APC candidate interface with the critical election stakeholders to strengthen commitments ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

The Acting Chairman of Kogi NYCN, Comr. Osiako Sunday in his speech praised the youth inclusiveness policies of the new direction government in the state. He said unlike in previous administrations, the NYCN and indeed young people in the state now enjoy a huge sense of belonging and inclusiveness which accounts for the overwhelming support that the Yahaya Bello administration enjoys from the youth demography, hence their support for Alhaji Usman Ododo to ensure consolidation.

He said the council has begun mobilization across polling units to ensure maximum victory for the APC candidate.

Earlier in his remarks, the pioneer Chairman of Kogi NYCN, Mr. Haroun Opotu commended the New Direction administration for according needed recognition to youth demography as it constitute a large percentage of the populace with strong electoral value. He said the endorsement of the APC candidate by NYCN was not out of place as it was a form of reciprocity of the government’s goodwill towards the council and its various youths friendly policies.

He urged the candidate not to drop the bar if elected, but consolidate on the solid foundation already laid by Governor Yahaya Bello.

The heads of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS-JCC), National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS), National Association of Ebira Students (NAES), National Association of Okun Students (NAOS) and Igala Students Association (ISA), in their separate remarks unanimously endorsed Alhaji Ododo Ahmed Usman and Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu candidacy. They however, appealed to the government to look into the issue of bursary students, while expressing optimism that it will be address soon.

Addressing the youths and students bodies, the Accountant General of the state and Patron of the Ododo Youth Mobilisation Center, Alh. Jibrin Momoh, commended the youths for their continued support for the government of governor Yahaya Bello. He said the governor prioritizes youth development and has inculcated same in all members of the new direction system, assuring that young people would continue to enjoy the same positive patronage when Ododo is elected as governor.

Alhaji Jibrin said, the APC candidate, Ododo is the best man for the job as he has learnt through the ropes and is ready to continue from where governor Bello would hand over the batton in January 2024.

“With his experience in administration, I believe that he has the wherewithal, the exposure and right connections to take Kogi to a higher pedestal banking on what Governor Bello has done as a springboard.” he said.

Responding, the APC governorship candidate, Alhaji Usman Ododo commended the youths and students for finding him worthy of their backing, promising not to disappoint the confidence reposed.

Ododo said the mandate that he holds is for the overall development of the state irrespective of religion and tribe, praising the youths for their resolve to stand with the Kogi Agenda.

He appreciated the governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for his giant strides including youths and women inclusion in governance, which he said has made campaigning easier through this kind of endorsments.

The candidate noted that the new direction government strives to right the wrongs of past administrations, promising that youth empowerment, human and infrastructure development as instituted by Governor Yahaya Bello will continue to be the kernel and policy thrust of his administration.