A socio-political group, Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), has rejected the nomination of Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, as the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, in a statement issued on Monday said Okowa does not pass for a young Nigerian and would not give the PDP victory in the forthcoming presidential election.
The northern group said described PDP’s choice of Okowa as a move schemed to exclude youth from the government.
The group noted that for democracy to flourish, there must be youth’s inclusion.
The statement reads, “For democracy to flourish and have meaning, there must be demographic inclusion. The two major political parties systematically schemed younger aspirants out of their presidential tickets.
“In order to complement the yearnings of the younger generation of Nigerians, the parties were expected to pick young people as running mates for their respective presidential candidates.
“The running mate selected by the Peoples Democratic Party is relatively not within the bracket of the young generation. Now, all eyes are on the APC to compliment the (Bola) Tinubu-ticket with young people.
“As Vice Presidential candidate to Bola Tinubu, such young energetic men as Dr Ibrahim Dauda, remain the only viable alternative that can guarantee victory for the APC.
“And since Tinubu is more in favour of the North-East, Dauda, who just clocked 50, so far, stands out as the only representative of the young generation among all the other hopefuls from that zone.
“It added that such young men with great potential, impeccable pedigree, proven integrity, honesty and experience are what the APC needs on the Asiwaju ticket.
“Popular young aspiring personalities like Dauda shall be the ones to be considered in order to bridge the widening generation gap.”
