April 03, (THEWILL) – A coalition of youths under the aegis of the Northern Youth Forum (NYF), has endorsed the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for the 2023 Presidency.
The youths, who gathered in Sokoto for the endorsement, described Emefiele as a symbol of national unity.
Addressing newsmen, spokesperson of the Forum, Aliyu Muhammad Sani, said the group was in the state for its continued consultations across the 19 Northern States and Abuja, to call on Emefiele to contest for president in the forthcoming 2023 general election.
“The time and energy we are putting into moving from state to state in consulting with relevant stakeholders, who have shown us undiluted support and have voiced their hopes of seeing Dr Godwin Emefiele as President of the Federal Republic on Nigeria, has already reached a point of no return”, said Sani.
He said, “Nigeria as a nation is being ruled by two blocks, North and South, for equity, justice, peace, tranquillity and brotherhood. This has kept the spirit of love, political participation and understanding among Nigerians, especially the elite on how power will be rotated evenly among the two blocks and who will get what, where and when.
“Fellow compatriots, as the North is about to end its years, let’s continue with the sportsmanship and genuine understanding that comes with a power rotation in our dear county”, said Sani.
The Forum also condemned moves by some Northerners to contest the 2023 presidency.
According to Sani, such moves negate the patriotism embedded in power rotation between the North and the South.
“Let’s be sincere, if we want Nigeria to continue existing as a single entity, all political parties as a matter of national urgency, should zone their presidential tickets to the south, because Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable, after all, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
“I called on youths not to allow the greed of the elite of this country prevail over them, and not to be used as political thugs. It’s time for the South to produce the next president, let’s support the best among the best from the southern part of this country, who will bring peace, progress and prosperity, a man who will fix all sectors to boost the economy of this country and compete with other stronger economies of the world such as China and Singapore.”
“Dr Godwin Emefiele is credible, competent, and full of integrity, free of corruption scandals and has no dubious characteristics. This is why he worked with the previous government and the present, the first in history.”
“As the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he has introduced initiatives targeted at strategically improving our economy. Some of these initiatives are:
“Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading-Payment Assurance Facility, the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, the Shared Agent Network Expansion Facility, to directly support enterprises with huge potential for job creation, conservation of foreign exchange.
“Others are import substitution as well as ensure financial system stability, the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS); Youth Entrepreneurship Development Scheme (YEDP); The National Collateral Registry (NCR); and lately; The Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI); The Agri-Business/Small and Medium Enterprises Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS) and the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).
“If he can introduce these initiatives as a Central Bank Governor, what do you think of him when he becomes president of this country, there will be rapid and constant development in all sectors with new and working ideas that will grow our country richer and economically stronger”, said Sani, adding that if the initiatives are not maintained, they will go down the drain, thus “we thought of him, and want him to contest.”
“We are intensifying these consultations and calling, viz a viz; to enlighten people about the man who has been helping them and will continue to help them”, he added.
