A member of the House of Representatives from Kaduna state, Rep Gabriel Saleh Zock has said that the replacement of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 must be a man with vast experience in governance and with the capacity to draw the support of the Nigerian people.
Zock who is one of the youngest members of the House said while several aspirants have indicated interest in contesting the office of the President, the experience of governing a state is not enough for the next President.
The lawmaker who said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo stands out as one of those with the best experience to run for the office of the President as aid having served as Vice President and acted as President on several occasions, he has the required experience to be the next President of Nigeria.
Zock who represents Kachia/Kagarko federal Constituency of Kaduna state said the Vice President stand out tall among all those aspiring to be President on the APC platform because of his wealth of experience, having acted as President on several occasion.
The Lawmaker said the time has come for Nigerians and Nigerians to stop doing trial and error in the selection of leaders, especially at the national level.
He said “the likes of our leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the likes of Fayemi, Amaechi, Yahaya Bello and others have shown interest in contesting the Presidency in the APC.
“But there is a difference between governing a state and governing a nation. In Kaduna state where i come from for example, we have 23 local government. But in Nigeria, we have 774 local government.
“You cannot compare 23 local government with 774 local government. How many local government do you have in Lagos state? That is where experience comes in. I will tell that categorically that experience matters.
“If the Presidency is zoned to the south today, we have the most credible people. If I am asked to choose one person based on experience, i will choose Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who is one of the most credible ones and has served as Vice President of this country.
“He has worked both in the state and has acted as President. Let us forget trial and error. I am a young man and look forward to a better Nigeria. We have a very bad image out there and we need people who can redeem that image for us.”
He however said youths in the country should also be given the opportunity to occupy leadership position, but was quick to add that such youths must first participate in community development as a way of building the confidence of the people.
He said money should not be the priority in contesting elections, stressing that if anybody earn the confidence of his people, they will mobilize money for him to contest and win elections.
H commended Kaduna state governor, Allan Nasir el-Rufai for encouraging youth participation in politics, adding that as a result of the deliberate policy youth policy of the the governor, many of the federal lawmakers from Kaduna state are within the 40 year age bracket.
While insisting that experience is key in terms of leadership, he said “in Kaduna state, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has given the youths the opportunity to participate in politics in a way that other states has not given.
“About 80 percent of local government Chairmen in Kaduna state today are below 35. 80 percent of the councilors in Kaduna state today are below 30. I am a member of the House of Representatives today and a beneficiary of that opportunity.
“It is only among the PDP members from kaduna state that you have elderly people. Apart from myself, we also have Mukthar Ladan who is even younger than me, representing Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency; we have Zakari Chawai.
“We have about seven members from Kaduna state in the House of Representatives who are below the age of 40. We are now developing experience from the House of Representatives.
“I am the leader of the Young ECOWAS parliament. I hav one round all ECOWAS states, met with leaders and gain lots of experience if you tell me about legislation tomorrow, I will tell you that I know what people are talking about”.