A group of the All Progressives Congress under the aegis of APC Young Stakeholders, on Thursday, threw its weight behind the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, saying he had more street credibility with Nigerian youths than any other party member.
The group’s vote of confidence is coming on the heels of Bello’s appointment as Youth Coordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
The Kogi governor’s appointment, which was conveyed in a letter signed by the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has come under criticisms, especially on social media.
A number of Nigerians felt the choice of the 47-year-old was an anomaly because the age bracket of youth, according to the United Nations, which ranges between the ages of 15 and 24.
But a defiant Bello defended the appointment when he appeared on Politics Today, a popular programme on Channels TV on Monday.
According to him, it would be unfair for anybody not to regard a young person like him as suitable to lead the campaign because of his strong bond with Nigerian youths.
Reacting to the drama at a press conference on Thursday, the Coordinator of the APC Young Stakeholders, Aliyu Audu, told newsmen that Bello’s appointment did not come as a surprise.
Audu noted further that Tinubu demonstrated over the years that he had an unusual flair to identify individuals who had the capacity to deliver, regardless of religion, tribe or gender.
He said, “Talk about Street credibility, there is no match to Governor Yahaya Bello. It is also on record that he appointed more youth and women into offices since his coming into power and has given many more young and middle aged people opportunity to excel more than any other in the present democratic dispensation.
“Bello also towered high by maintaining peace and even playing mediatory role during the famous ENDSARS protest that held across the country.
“We must not let emotions deny us the chance of rallying round the right leader whose leadership, competence, capacity, character, and vision is right for the task ahead.
“The nation is ours and it is our responsibility to build it in ways that serves the interest of the majority of the citizens working with Tinubu, a leader with proven track records of progressive governance.”
