Hundreds of youths from Yobe Zone A thronged the State Government House, Damaturu on Friday to prevail on Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to contest for the Senate seat for Yobe Zone A.
Briefing newsmen during the visit, the leader of the youths, Umar Kalli, said people in Yobe Zone A, not just the youths, are convinced that the governor is best suited to represent them in the Senate given his track record of performance as governor and his personal leadership qualities.
“We believe that although Governor Gaidam is successfully completing his second term in office, we cannot allow him to go and rest. We need him in the Senate because we believe he is the best person who can represent our people there,” Mr Kalli said.
The youth leader, therefore, begged the governor not to turn down their request, saying youths in the area are solidly behind him as the political leader of the state.
Mr Kalli, who presented a letter of appeal to Mr Gaidam to contest for the Senate, also said that youths and like-minded individuals from the zone have resolved to purchase the senatorial nomination form for the governor to contest the senatorial seat in 2019.
While receiving the letter on behalf of the governor, the deputy governor, Abubakar D. Aliyu, said that he would pass on their message to Mr Gaidam, assuring them that the governor would respond positively to their requests.
“I congratulate you for having a leader like my boss Governor Ibrahim Gaidam whose life of service to our state is known to everyone. I am here to listen to you and to convey your message to him and I will do just that. And I can assure you that he will respond positively,” he said.
The deputy governor said Mr Gaidam, being an undisputed political leader of the state, the state would continue to look up to him for political leadership.
Mr Aliyu admonished the youths to use their voters’ cards wisely and to resist being used by certain selfish politicians who pay stipends to purchase voters’ cards and disenfranchise eligible voters.
