The Northern Youths Leaders’ Forum (NYLF) has endorsed the Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, as its prefereed presidential candidate, threatening to work against the governor’s future political interests should he decline the endorsement.
NYLF National President, Comrade Elliot Afiyo, revealed the Forum’s endorsement when he led other members on a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Bauchi.
According to him, the Forum, which consists of 42 northern groups, had taken upon itself the responsibility of shortlisting, investigating, screening, and endorsing credible candidates for every presidential election by her patrons since 1999.
He informed that one of the objectives of the Forum was the political interest of the North, especially in a democratic dispensation, adding that it had remained steadfast despite threats, intimidations and inducements.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that the group national president informed that Governor Mohammed emerged the Forum’s preferred presidential candidate for the 2023 presidential election at its 27th delegate conference in Yola, Adamawa State, where members voted to that effect.
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According to Afiyo, 27 prominent Nigerians were shortlisted for screening by the Forum’s political committee headed by Doctor Sani Musa, its zonal coordinator South-East during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Gombe State.
‘Your Excellency, this Forum took interest in you when you defeated a sitting governor in the senatorial election in 2007. Since then, our intelligence committee led by my humble self decidec to give His Excellency a close watch, this you may not know.
‘His Excellency’s boldness and overwhelming passion for truth and justice which came to public notice when you displayed against all odds in the Senate by introducing the doctrine of necessity which brought peace, order and tranquility in the nation, gives us assurance that one day, a desired and respected president will emerge to take us across the red sea,’ Afiyo said.
He declared that Governor Mohammed’s performances as the FCT Minister and his two years of leadership in Bauchi State were magic wands that convinced them, and indeed many Nigerians, that he (Mohammed) would lead Nigeria to the promised land as its president.
Responding to the endorsement, Governor Mohammed said that the endorsement by the Forum for him to run as a presidential candidate in the 2023 general election is not only a great honour to him, the people of Bauchi State but also all upcoming politicians in Northern Nigeria.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK