Ahead the 2019 general elections, a chieftain of the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) and the party spokesman Comrade Timi Frank,
has said that young people should demand 50 percent political offices from
the local government, state and federal government before voting at the
next elections.
He also said that youths should ask questions on what the politicians have
in stock for them and ensure proper negotiation before going to queue for
voting.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja when the Area Youth Forum (ACF) paid him a
courtesy visit to solidarise with him on his travail with the Chief John
Oyegun led National Working Committee (NWC), Frank assured that he will
continue “to lead the struggle of young people in this country even if it
is going to cost me my life because I want to see the day when country
will have a young President, a young Governor and young Ministers in
Nigeria.”
According to Frank, “one of the ministers in Dubai is just barely 22 years
and he’s doing better, the National Chairman of the ruling party in Kenya,
he’s just barely 29 years, if they can do it in other countries, we can do
it in Nigeria.”
His words “I have made it clear on international youths day that it is
high time every government must give youth 50 percent political office
from local government, to state and federal government. I’m still
retreating same position that 50 percent of political position should be
given to us (youths) from now upward, this is the only thing that we
cannot negotiate, it is non-negotiable, this is one thing we must do in
2019, before we elect any leader, they must have an agreement with us on
the 50 percent inclusion because we cannot be oppressed anymore. We must
ask them question on what they have for Nigerian youths, this is what we
are demanding, you must give us 50 percent inclusion.
“I believe today, I have demonstrated capacity it takes to represent the
young people in APC as a party, I’ll continue to do my best, I‘ll not
relent despite the intimidation and harassment from those who believe that
the young ones must not survive. What I’m fighting today is not all about
Timi neither is it about keeping my position, it is all about keeping the
integrity of Nigerian youths, that is why I’m been harassed and
intimidated by my own party led by the National Chairman, Chief John
Oyegun. They have been doing everything possible by saying they have
suspended me because they see me as a young man who will always fight for
the interest of the young people. Today, I can tell you without fear or
favour that I’m very disappointed in my party because my party has not
treated the young people well.
“I can assure you that despite what has happened to me, we’ll not give up,
it is a struggle because without the young people, the elderly ones will
not get elected, it is we that is electing them to power, we can as well
elect ourselves the same way we are electing them, this is one message I
want to pass, with this relationship we are trying to build between the
Northern Youth Forum and myself.”
Frank revealed that when he started agitating for Northern presidency he
was alone in the struggle.
“When I started the struggle as a young man, as at when I started
agitating for Northern Presidency, I was alone, the history is there
because I believe the North has also put so much for the development,
peace and stability of our country, we must therefore do everything
possible to keep that cordial relationship between the North and South as
young people.”
Speaking earlier, President of the forum, Gambo Ibrahim Jungu, said
although Arewa Forum is not a political organization but they came to
sympathise with Frank on his travail with Chief Oyegun leadership.
He said the forum believe the youth of Nigeria should be given major role
to participate in governance, adding that “we believe it is unfair and
attempt to shortchange Timi Frank.”
The forum, however, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently
intervain in the crisis to avoid Julius Malema experience in South Africa.