Abdullahi Hussaini MaiBasira, National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Director of Youth Mobilisation of its Presidential Campaign Organisation, spoke with journalists in Abuja on youths preparation for the general elections as well as the chances of President Goodluck Jonathan getting re-elected. KARLS TSOKAR of the Abuja Bureau was there.

Mission of youths during this election and how far we have gone
OUR focus is that candidates of our party should emerge victorious at all levels at the polls. Our work is to mobilise and ensure the re-election of the President and galvanise youth support nationwide.

Towards this, we have held several programmes for the campaigns. We held town hall meetings in Sokoto, Niger, Kogi, Calabar, Owerri, Akure, Ilorin, Lagos, Kaduna and our other officers were detailed to Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau and Nasarawa.

We also did stop-overs in Zamfara, Kebbi and Ekiti states. We engaged youths on social media through the “PDPyouthtweetmeet” with over 2.3 million reach, we also mobilised members of the Youth Campaign Committee for all the Presidential Campaign rallies.

The 2015 Youth Campaign Committee will go down in history as one with the most assembly of youths and student leaders. We liaised consistently with the youths and students movements, and we also got endorsements of youth leaders from other political parties who joined us in Lagos.

We convened an interactive session with youth groups, and we had fruitful engagements with our peers and colleagues. Other groups too held some programmes for youths, and we are satisfied that we are all on board for the same success.

Significance of the elections
First, we are confident we will win. The PDP is a truly Nigerian party. On the election, it is an election, in my own opinion that will consolidate democracy and prepare us to face the challenges of overcoming our fault lines. This election will make Nigerians really appreciate democracy. It is about moving forward and enhancing our country’s prospects. It is about consolidating our hold on our economic growth to further translate it into full development.

We expect high turnout of voters, which is good for democracy. Nigerians will participate in the process and appreciate the fact that democracy is here to stay, and we must all work together to ensure that it stays.

Why youths should vote for Jonathan and the problem of youths forming the greatest percentage of thugs
If you take a closer look at the President’s policy initiatives and thrust, you will discover that the administration has consistently placed young people in all of its intervention projects. Federal Government led interventions in agricultural, ICT, education, public health, works and infrastructure, employment drive such as the Graduate Internship Scheme that allows corporate and private enterprises mentor young people and prepare them for full scale employment and channelling funds-oil subsidy funds into YouWIN and Sure-P programmes.