The Northern Young Christian Forum of Nigeria, on Monday, congratulated Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, on his appointment as the National Youth Co-ordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
The group said there was no better person for the position than the governor, given his impressive political achievements and strong connection with young people.
Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, had in a letter, titled, “Appointment as National Youth Coordinator for Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council,” said Bello would champion an effective, message-driven campaign which would lead to the party’s victory in 2023.
The NYCFN in a statement by its Secretary-General, Paul Idoko, described Bello as a bridge between the young and older generations as well as the North and South. According to him, Bello would be the game-changer that would give the APC an edge over its rivals.
Idoko said no politician across party line commands the governor’s acceptability, especially among the youths. He said that in Kogi State, Bello’s youth inclusiveness in governance had set the path for the other states to follow, adding that it had brought more awareness and enabled the younger ones to learn governance to become good future leaders.
Idoko also acknowledged the governor’s influence during the last primaries across the country which saw the emergence of many young people.
He said, “We welcome the choice of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, as the national youth coordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign council as a smart move. Bello ticks all the boxes.
“At 47, he is pretty much a youth and one of the youngest political leader in the country. Bello is intelligent, widely accepted and commands the respect of Nigerians. He will be critical for the APC, especially as he is loved by Nigerians irrespective of age, religion and ethnicity.
“Bello has done a phenomenal job in Kogi. No governor or any current political office holder in the country comes close in terms of actually engaging youths at the highest level. He has set the trend, leading to inclusive youth participation in governance. Like himself, his deputy is a youth.,Bello’s Chief of Staff and deputy are also young people. He is also surrounded by aides who are below 30.
“Recall in May, Governor Nyesom Wike of the PDP hailed Bello’s youth-friendly leadership. He said ‘governance is not just sending young people to the social media for the campaign, but engaging them in active governance the way Bello is doing here.’
“On the national front, Bello has changed the dynamics and at the last primaries, he helped some aspiring young Nigerians emerge as flagbearers of their parties.
“Aside from his inexorable linkage to the Nigerian youth, the governor has demonstrated an incurable penchant for gender-balancing in his cabinet. Since 2015 till date, the Secretary to the State Government has been a woman. The governor at the beginning of his administration also had a female chief press secretary. His current aide-de-camp, against the usual convention, is a woman. Several women are also serving as special assistants, commissioners, advisers and even local government administrators.”
The group, therefore, charged Bello to see his latest appointment as another step toward a secure, united and prosperous nation.
Idoko tasked the governor to quickly hit the ground running, designing a blueprint that will lead the party to victory. He expressed confidence in Bello’s capacity to succeed on the job.
