Date: 2019-01-30

YOUTHS from the Kwara North senatorial district of Kwara state have embraced recent pact by stakeholders from the zone with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders in the state on power shift to the zone in 2023.

1 In the new agreement, the PDP and stakeholders in the zone agreed to cede the governorship ticket to the zone by 2023 and compensate them with the Speakership of the state House of Assembly and Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in a post-2019 election.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Wednesday, the youths advised elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the zone to make similar concession to the zone within the same time frame.

The youth, who argued that the condemnation of the pact by some elders was not consistent with the yearnings of people from Kwara North, saying that some of the elders had at one time or the other allegedly been selfish with appointments meant for the zone.

Spokesman for the youths, Engr Zacheaus Kolo, who was supported by Prince Haliru Dantosho, Ndanusa Kara and Dr Ndazaba Manzuma, lamented that most of those who now oppose the deal were beneficiaries of various political opportunities under the leadership of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

"However, because the man told them to allow younger elements to also have the opportunity they too had enjoyed, they are now crying foul", he said, pointing out that the pact is already binding on all genuine stakeholders in the zone.

"We wish to state for the record that we the young people of Kwara north do not, shall not, and cannot support the opposition APC. The APC and its leaders do not have any plan for our senatorial zone, the APC and its leaders are seasonal politicians who appear before election and disappear immediately.

"We challenge the leaders of the APC to come and tell us, what they have in stock for Kwara north, aside from the empty promises? There is no place for hiding anymore; we have seen all the antics of the APC leaders, if they can benefit from the same Saraki dynasty, then why are they denying us now that it is our own turn?

"As a matter of fact, all of them once drank from the same Saraki's dynasty water glass. Some of them have been ministers, senators, and many have held different positions both appointed and elective. And now that it is our turn they want to deny us of our benefits from the same dynasty. We won't accept that, we won't take it from them."

He added that the nine front line monarchs from the zone have directed their subjects to vote for the PDP in the coming elections, saying that " any bonafide indigenes of Edu, Patigi, Baruten, Moro and Kaiama local government is duty bound to take to the instruction of our revered traditional rulers.

"The monarchs are both our spirit and traditional rulers and what they say is binding on all bonafide indigenes of the areas. We hold them in high esteem and they have never misled us.

"We, the youths have decided to take charge of our affairs. Therefore, we want to assure leaders of the PDP in the state that we shall deliver bloc votes for the party during the February 16 and March 2 generation elections in the state."