Nigerian Senate President Bukola Saraki has issued a statement in response to the reaction of the ‘Not Too Young To Run Movement’ that it didn’t endorse the action of the Senate President and had no idea he was going to use a platform organised by them to announce his candidature for the Presidency.
Dr. Saraki issued a statement on Friday through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, saying that his action was not intended to push the group to any position but the declaration was made in good faith.
Excerpts from Saraki’s statement read;
“It is true that the Not Too Young To Run leadership had no prior knowledge of the content of the Senate President’s remarks.
However, the announcement by the Senate President that he intends to throw his hat into the ring to contest for the Presidency was made in good faith to young PDP aspirants, partly as a symbolic act of encouragement. It was not the intent of the Senate President to put the group or its leadership in an invidious position.”
Saraki further explained that he had first declared his intention to run for President during a series of dialogues organised by the ‘Not Too Young To Run Movement’ along party lines.
That particular declaration had only been privy to young aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP while the open declaration was intended for the All Progressives Congress, APC as well as other Political Parties in the country.
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The Senate President however expressed appreciation for the Youth Movement for its contribution to the development of democracy in Nigeria.
He subsequently promised to continue working closely with young people across the country, in order to make Nigeria a better place for all citizens.
Senator Saraki announced his candidature for the 2019 Presidency while delivering a keynote address at an event organised by the Not Too Young To Run Movement on Thursday in Abuja.
The Youth Movement quickly issued a statement in dismay, dissociating itself from Saraki’s declaration while noting that they had no prior knowledge of the declaration.