The Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila has asked Nigerian youths to vote for those with track records in next year’s general elections.
He made the call on Wednesday when the executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by their President Usman Barambu visited him in his office at the National Assembly in Abuja.
The students leaders led by their President, Usman Barambu to appreciate the key role the Speaker played in ending the eight-month-long strike embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
While appreciating the “thank you” visit Gbajabiamila said,”You are a very important segment of Nigeria for national development. The role of youth in society cannot be overemphasized because you play a very critical role in what happens in this country now and in the future.
“It is important you understand that we recognize the importance of your place in national development.”
He further stressed that, students cannot afford to be detached from the process of electing the next President as the future of the country was at stake
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“Well, for me, you (students) have a lot to do between now and election day. In the next three, four months, you have a lot to do.What I mean is that you have to now begin to look at things differently, be able to look at things the way they are done in other climes, where people will look at things when it comes to politics and elections,” he said
“What do I mean by that? We have so many candidates, not three, not four. People talk about having three frontrunners, perhaps, but as far as I’m concerned, we have 18 candidates running for the President of this country and don’t think you should overlook any one of them. You should not.
“What I want you to do, as is done in advanced democracies, is to look objectively, and this is what is done in other countries, people run on their records.
“So, those are the issues that I think you need to consider. If a candidate does not have a record to run on and is talking about something else, it means that he doesn’t have a record to run on.
“The good thing is that most of the candidates, at least the frontrunners, have records. I’m not pitching for anybody here but look at their records. If you feel he deserves to be the President of Nigeria, please, do not hesitate. Vote for that person based on his record.
“Two of them have been governors for eight years, that’s the only record they have. One has been the Vice-President for eight years. So there are records, vote for records. Every candidate must run on his record.”
He added: “And I believe the way you have been equipped mentally, I have interacted with so many of you, I believe you’re savvy enough to be able to, in spite of all the noise and the smokescreen, zero in on the right person for Nigeria.
He advised the students leaders to also pray as prayer is important in every human’s life
“Also pray, that’s very important. As you consider the candidates, also pray that God will guide you to make the right choice.
“I believe that it’s going to be a watershed moment in Nigeria and I believe that is exactly what is going to happen. That is the only charge I have for you today because that’s the most important thing before us in Nigeria right now.”