… Warn against plot to sabotage party head of 2027

… Urges focus on Tinubu’s re-election bid

The Ondo Progressive Youth Forum has kicked against moves by those it described as “unscrupulous elements” attempting to destabilise the youth structure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State and across the country.

According to the youth forum, the recent media outings by certain party members, purportedly showing support for an individual, were calculated attempts to sow division within the party’s ranks and cast doubt on a decision already taken at the highest level of the party.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the leader of the forum, Damilola Abegunde, the group threw its full support for the appointment of the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, as Director of Youth Mobilisation for the PBAT/APC 2027 Presidential Campaign Council.

The group emphasised that the appointment of Olawande was made by President Bola Tinubu in his wisdom and that the interest of the President remains paramount to the youth wing of the party in Ondo State.

According to the forum, any attempt to discredit the authority of the president and question his decisions regarding the party’s campaign structure is unacceptable.

The forum noted that Olawande, alongside the Ondo State APC Youth Leader, had been working for the president long before the formal pronouncement that made him the leader of the youth campaign team.

It stated that the Minister had already been coordinating, empowering, and mobilising youths across the country in preparation for the presidential election.

The group emphasised that the ongoing National Youth Conference is one of the initiatives of the Minister of Youth Development aimed at bringing young Nigerians together, giving them a seat at the table of governance, and collectively arriving at a common resolve to support the re-election of Tinubu.

“The interest of the President is our interest. The position of the president is the position we will abide by. We therefore find it laughable that a few individuals would come together to discredit the authority of the President and question a decision he has taken in the overall interest of the party,” the forum stated.

The youth forum further reeled out a list of achievements under the minister’s leadership, describing them as enormous for a leader who understands young people, particularly that he is one of them.

The group maintained that the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund was increased from N75 billion to N110 billion under his watch, widening access to finance for young entrepreneurs.

It further added that partnerships and memoranda of understanding with institutions such as the National Information Technology Development Agency and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission have opened doors to digital literacy, training, and job opportunities for millions of young Nigerians.

The forum also cited the launch of the Nigerian Youth Academy with its One Youth, Two Skills campaign; the introduction of the Young and Secure Initiative with the Ministry of Police Affairs alongside a Youth Helpdesk to tackle the harassment of young people; and the facilitation of the distribution of 2,000 CNG-powered tricycles to young transport operators.

It noted that the Minister secured presidential approval for the Youth House Initiative, which will establish youth centres across the states and local governments of the federation, and has championed reforms to ensure that corps members are posted to organisations relevant to their fields of study.

“These are not empty claims. They are the fruits of a minister who understands young people because he is one of them and who has consistently placed the interest of Nigerian youth and the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda above personal ambition,” the forum added.