Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has given an ultimatum to Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, to quickly accept to run for the 2023 presidency under any political party of his choice or face future political oblivion.
According to the NYLF national chairman, Elliot Afiyo, the group’s finding reveals that Governor Bala, remains the best presidential material for the country.
Presenting the letter of demand to declare interest to the Governor on Wednesday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Afoul explained that the Forum has searched and came to the decision that Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir is the best presidential material for the country.
He further explained that “during our last NEC meeting in Gombe, we scrutinised 47 people across the country and Bala Mohammed was one of the leading names that came up. We subjected the leading names into votes and Bala Mohammed emerged the winner and it was unanimously endorsed”.
Elliot said that the Forum had a positive influence on all the presidential candidates who later emerged elected since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1998, declaring that with a membership strength of over four million, the Forum has a strong base to be relevant in the political process of the country.
“I hereby present the letter of call to contest the 2023 presidency to you on behalf of the NYLF. Let me tell you that, if you decline our request, we will work against your political aspirations in the future”.
While responding to the NYLF, Governor Bala said: “I am the most hunted and humiliated politician in the country, since 2007 when I defeated an outgoing Governor to emerge the Senator to represent Bauchi South, to the time I raised the motion on the necessity and was eventually appointed as Minister of the FCT, I have continued to face stiff opposition and political intimidation.
“I have refused to be intimidated, I have refused to bulge and I have moved on to pursue the cause I believe in. To the glory of God, here I am today, the elected Governor of Bauchi State against all odds and political character assassination. Allah has indeed been gracious to me and my family.
“We came to Bauchi state with the fire of determination to develop the state and make it better than what we met in 2019. To the glory of God, we have been able to make significant progress within the past two years and we intend to continue to do that until the end of our term in office “, Bala said.
On the call by the Forum, Bala Mohammed said: “I will not categorically give you an answer, I will have to make consultations across all political divide in the country after which I will come out with my position. I rely on the leading of Allah and my political constituency. Just give me between two and three weeks and I will get back to you with a definite answer.
“I will consult people from my constituency, journalists, civil servants, friends, governors, politicians and many people.
“Your initiative is an honour to me, the people of Bauchi state and the entire northeastern state, even if I do not become the President”, he said.
Adding that “I am a fulfilled politician who rose from nothing to something both in public service and political scene. God has been very faithful to me and my family and I do not need to struggle for anything again in life, therefore, I will not categorically say yes to your proposal for now”.
In a brief remark, the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hamza Koshe Akuyam declared that as politically motivated people, they are ready to go the way the Governor is going as far as 2023 is concerned.
