The Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) on Friday condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s appeal that youths
should not contest for the Presidency in 2019.
Buhari, while signing the Not Too
Young To Run Bill, had appealed to the youth movement to “postpone” their
“campaigns” until after 2019.
The President had said, “Please,
can I ask you to postpone your campaigns till after the 2019 elections!”
But, in its reaction, PDP
described Buhari’s appeal as “degrading and completely unacceptable.”
In a statement by its
spokesperson, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP insisted that such declaration was
“unpresidential, unlawful and discriminatory.”
PDP stressed that such a
declaration was, “Totally unpresidential, unlawful, discriminatory and further
showcases the disdain with which Mr. President holds the youths, who he had
earlier described, without apologies, as lazy and lovers of freebies.”
The statement reads, “We want
Nigerians, particularly, the youths, to note that President Buhari’s position
reflects the policy of his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC), not
to allow our youths the opportunity to aspire at top levels.
“President Buhari and the APC
have been using all manner of machinations to frustrate front line
participation of the youths and, of course, the women in active politics and
governance.
“It is unimaginable that a President
can sign a law and immediately seek to suspend it. President Buhari’s attempt
to talk down on and intimidate the youths from contesting against him in 2019
shows that he is not in support of the Not Too Young To Run law and only
assented to it because he had no other option under the 1999 Constitution (as
Amended).
“We therefore urge Nigerians to
be alert and wary of booby traps as well as land mines that the APC and the
Presidency will set on the way to scuttle the quest for our youths to fully
participate and aspire in our democratic process.
“On our part, the PDP insists
that the Nigerian youths have come of age; and are free, under all
circumstances, to contest for any position, including the office of President,
even in the 2019 general election.”
PDP also promised to encourage
the amendment of Nigeria’s electoral act, if it assumes power in 2019.
The former ruling party also
noted that Buhari has nothing to offer Nigerian youths.
The statement added, “In 2019,
when the re-branded PDP is returned to power as the vehicle of good governance and
economic prosperity, our party will further encourage the amendment of our
electoral laws to enable any Nigerian that can vote the right to stand for
elections.
“The PDP therefore calls on all
Nigerian youths to note that President Buhari and the APC have nothing to offer
them and the nation at large. They should therefore spare no thoughts in
jettisoning all support for President Buhari and the APC in their 2019
reelection bid.
“As we march to 2019, the PDP charges all
Nigerian youths to come together and rally on our repositioned platform and
give vent to their wishes and aspirations, within the circle of our collective
task, to rescue our nation from the misrule of the APC.”
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