…says Nigeria can’t be exempted
The leader of Opposition Coalition in Akwa Ibom State, Obong (Dr) Uduakobong Udoh has commended what he described as ‘African youths rising’ going on in some African countries, reasoning that it was a sign of awakening.
Uduak Udoh while responding to questions at his Opposition Coalition office in Uyo on Monday, said the time has come when the youths of Nigeria would join other African youths by rising up to take their destinies in their hands.
“What is going on today in Kenya, Tanzania, Cameroun Madagascar and so on, are proofs that the time is here that the African youth have risen to take their destinies in their hands”, Obong Udoh stated while responding to questions on his take on the governorship election conducted last Saturday in Anambra state.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday announced the incumbent governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo as winner of the Anambra state gubernatorial election conducted across the 21 local government areas of the state.
Reacting, Dr Uduakobong who was the 2023 Akwa Ibom State governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) continued: “What happened in Anambra state can not be a reflection of the wishes of the people.
“There were widespread incidents of massive vote buying, so that at the end of the day, the highest vote buyer is declared the winner. This cannot be a democracy. If this is allowed, then our youths would permanently be foreclosed from attaining leadership positions.
How many youths would have the kind of money thrown around in Anambra state to enable them win a governorship elections in their states? By our constitution, all Nigerian youths with relevant academic qualifications are automatically qualified to contest for a certain position once they attain the required age.
But where will they get the huge money?”.
While lauding the youths of sister African countries whom he said are rising to demand for accountable leadership, Dr. Udoh expressed the hope that Nigeria would not be an exemption.
“So, when you see those youths in those African countries demonstrating, they are rejecting a situation where they are continually relegated to the background. They are rejecting bad systems. They are demonstrating against bad governance and come 2027, Nigerian youths would join the queue. They will take their destinies in their own hands. Nigeria cannot be exempted.
That’s why here in Akwa Ibom State, we are building a formidable movement that would provide for the youths the opportunity to aspire for leadership positions of their choices. In the opposition coalition, everybody is somebody. On daily basis, we’re receiving people who have become tired of the status quo and they are poised to effecting a change come 2027”.
