2019: PDP condemns Buhari’s opposition to youths running against him

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, described as unacceptable, President Muhammadu Buhari’s opposition to the idea of youths contesting next year’s presidential election against him, insisting that nothing stops the youth from taking a shot at the Presidency in the elections.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said Buhari’s stance reflected the policy of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) not to allow young people aspire to top positions in the country.

The party accused the President and the ruling party of frustrating the participation of youths and women in active politics and governance, adding: “It is unimaginable that a President can sign a law and immediately seek to suspend it.

“Buhari’s attempt to talk down on and intimidate the youths from contesting against him next year shows that he is not in support of the Not Too Young To Run law and only assented to it because he had no other option under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“We, therefore, urge Nigerians to be alert and wary of booby traps, as well as land mines, that the APC and the Presidency will set on the way to scuttle the quest for our youths to fully participate and aspire in our democratic process.”

The opposition party called on youths in the country to rally it to rescue the country from the grip of the APC in the next general election, noting that Buhari and the ruling party have shown that they have nothing to offer the youths and as such, should be rejected them at the polls.

Also yesterday, the PDP National Youth Leader, Sunday Ude-Okoye, said the party, being youth-friendly, would continue to champion the cause of young persons in the country.

Ude-Okoye, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, said during its 16 years reign, the PDP appointed many young persons into sensitive positions, assuring that it would continue to run a youth-friendly government, if voted back to power next year.