Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has told young Nigerians that they no longer have any excuse not to take over the nation’s leadership.
Bello said this while speaking at the opening of a two-day retreat for young legislators at Federal and state levels on Monday, in Lagos.
The retreat was organised by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in partnership with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) of the National Assembly.
It was entitled, “Youth Alliance-Towards 2023 General Elections”.
Bello, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Youths and Students Affairs, Ahmadu Jibril, said Nigeria is waiting for young people to steer the country towards the dreams of its founding fathers.
“Youth no longer have any excuse not to take the lead. We are not just youthful, we are useful and purposeful,” Bello said.
According to him, his political life had been a chronicle of doing what people said could not be done, when he threw his hat into the ring as a young Nigerian to run for governorship of Kogi in 2015.
“A lot of people saw me as a joker and a lot of people thought it was impossible; some called me an outsider because I had no godfather,” he added.
He said his legacies and achievements in office should not be difficult for anyone to search.
Bello challenged the young parliamentarians to lead with a difference.
According to him, the clamour for youth takeover of leadership would be encouraged and boosted by the sterling performance of those already in the corridors of power.
“In like manner, as we think of 2023-the question of the next leadership of Nigeria, may I challenge you to deploy your considerable resources of office and influence toward crafting the Nigeria of our dream.”
