Saraki defends his using of youth forum to declare his candidacy saying he will reflect youth concerns

SENATE president Senator Bukola Saraki has defended his decision to declare his candidacy for the presidency at a forum organised by youth group Not Too Young To Run (NTYTR)  claiming that his candidature will reflect the yearnings and aspirations of young Nigerians.

Yesterday, Senator Saraki threw his hat into the ring, announcing that he will be running for president in February next year. Currently a member of the main opposition the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Saraki will seek the party's presidential ticket in a battle that will pitch him against the likes of Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ibrahim Shekarau, Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Attahiru Bafarawa, Aminu Tambuwal, Jonah Jang and Kabiru Taminu.

However, NTYTR dissociated itself from Senator Saraki’s decision to declare his intention at its  programme which was meant to address political issues affecting youths including participating in the forthcoming elections. Responding, Senator Saraki's spokesman Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that the group had no knowledge of his boss's intention to declare for presidency at the programme.

Mr Olaniyonu said: “It has been brought to our attention that the Not Too Young To Run group have issued a statement in relation to the announcement made by the president of the senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, whilst addressing the PDP members and aspirants of the group. The occasion was first in a series of dialogues organised by the Not Too Young To Run along party lines, the first one is for young PDP aspirants and subsequent ones are designed for the APC and other parties.

“It is true that the Not Too Young To Run leadership had no prior knowledge of the content of the senate president’s remarks. However, the announcement by the senate president that he intends to throw his hat into the ring to contest for the presidency was made in good faith to young PDP aspirants, partly as a symbolic act of encouragement."

He added that it was not Senator Saraki's intention to put the group or its leadership in an invidious position. According to Mr Olaniyonu, Senator Saraki appreciates the contribution of the group to the development of our democracy and will continue to work closely with young people across the country in order to make Nigeria a better place for all.

NTYTR dissociated itself from the formal declaration of Senator Saraki after he declared his intention to stand at an event organised by the group at the Sheraton hotel, Abuja yesterday. Samson Itodo, the group's convener, said it was disappointed by Senator Saraki’s use of its programme to declare his intention.

He added: “As part of efforts to promote youth candidacy and democratic party primaries, the Not Too Young To Run movement commenced a series of public town hall meetings with the leadership of political parties and young aspirants to address the challenges faced by young aspirants in securing party tickets. Young aspirants advocated for a reduction in the cost of party nomination forms and requested the party to uphold internal democracy in the conduct of party primaries and in his response, the chairman of the PDP assured the young aspirants of their support for youth candidacy in the forthcoming primaries.

“Whilst addressing participants at the town hall, Senator Saraki declared his intention to run for the office of the president in the 2019 elections. The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Senator Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership to advance his personal political ambition.

"We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate and dissociates ourselves from this political move. As noted earlier, the movement reaffirms its identity as a non-partisan citizen led movement dedicated to the defence democracy, political inclusion and transformative leadership."