A political movement of young professionals drawn from across the 52 wards of Kwara Central senatorial district, under the aegis of the 52-Youth Coalition, has pledged its support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Saturday, the group, led by the Deputy Central Coordinator, Issa Abdulgafar Arikewuyo, however, said that they would vote for candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in the general elections.
The group, who said that state politics must serve the people, added that public resources must be treated as a trust, not a personal estate.
‘This is our position as the 52-Youth Coalition. We are supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because, among the options currently available, none has demonstrated that he is better than him.
‘Besides, we believe President Tinubu also deserves the time required to consolidate the policies and reforms his administration has begun.’
However, the youth group said that their support for the President at the national level does not extend to this state government’s record, saying: ‘Here in Kwara, we are working to deliver victory for the candidates of the Rainbow Coalition, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidates for the governorship and the National Assembly.
‘We strongly believe Kwara needs fresh air in its leadership and governance. We cannot continue to reward a government defined by insecurity, waste, absenteeism and intolerance for accountability within its own ranks.
‘We, therefore, call on all Kwarans, young and old, across the 16 local government areas, to vote for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election, and for the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the governorship and National Assembly elections in 2027.
‘Politics must serve the people. Public resources must be treated as a trust, not a personal estate. And the future of Kwara must be bigger than the interests of one man and his inner circle.’
Arikewuyo also said that the Coalition will continue to engage citizens across the 52 wards of Kwara Central district and work with young people across Kwara South and Kwara North districts around issues of governance, accountability, security, economic opportunity and democratic participation.