Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State, Monday, led a group of young people from his state to present N100 million to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as nomination fees for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The money is expected to cover the fees for the Nomination and Expression of Interest forms for the President during the primary.
Receiving the cheque, the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, advised other groups or individuals planning to pay for President Tinubu’s re-election forms to drop the idea.
He said Kogi group was the second entity that indicated interest to buy the President’s nomination form.
He, however, said the first group is yet to make financial commitment.
Yilwatda said: “We are seeing young men, youths from Kogi State taking a decisive action, not to ask for what the government or the President will do for them, but they are asking what they can do to support Mr President, as he will return back in 2027 and do much more for their people.
“They listed their reasons and they gave valid reasons why they want Mr President to come back. They said the economy has improved and all indices are looking green and positive. They said Mr President is tackling security in their state along with Mr Governor and the pockets of the people disturbing them within the communities. Mr President has sent military men and Mr Governor has provided the enabling environment by providing supporting devices for the military to tackle them. They said Mr President has given them appointments. These include the Chief of Army Staff, the National Chairman and several other appointments.
‘They also said that Mr Governor has done excellently, very well in terms of infrastructure. He has connected roads, he has done a cultural programme. He has empowered the youths and he has provided leadership for young people. We keep on saying that the youths are the leaders of tomorrow. Mr Ododo and Mr President, the two of them are saying that the youths are the leaders of today.
“We have seen it by the appointments he has done, a lot of young people in governance. You can see it in the party. I had the opportunity of being the youngest National Party Chairman by Mr President during his time. You can see a lot of young people being appointed by Mr President as CEOs in different capacities. That’s why they have donated the sum of N100 million to Mr President for him to procure his nomination form and expression of interest form.
“To me, I told them that all Nigerians, all the youths across the country, all of us the party members and especially National Working Committee members, we are proud of Kogi youths.”
While thanking the youths for the gesture, Yilwatda said: “We have both the cash in our accounts and we have also the dummy. It’s not a voice note. These are the drafts of the 100 million Naira that is connected to this dummy. So, this is the dummy? But this is the real cash. Is that okay? This is not a voice note. This is not a promissory note. This is a commitment.”
Also speaking, Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, said in the history of Nigeria “no government has ever given the youth a space as much as Mr. President has done right now, of which I am a beneficiary as we speak. Well,your own question is this.”
