By Banji Ayoola
The Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders of Nigeria (CENYLON), has congratulated the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader and ex-Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for emerging as his party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 Elections, at its just concluded National Convention in Abuja, the Federal Capital.
In a statement by its National Chairman, who also doubles as the Yoruba Youth National Leader, Comrade Eric Oluwole, in Akure, the Ondo State Capital, on Thursday, CENYLON said Tinubu’s victory at the convention gives hope of a better Nigeria.
He described “the popular 1,271 votes of Delegates from across the Country, which Tinubu garnered at the Convention, and which cut across ethnic and religious lines, as another Foundation laid anew, which gives hope of National Unity and a brighter Nigeria, that will rise above the current challenges, to be blind to ethnic, religious or other differences.”
Besides, the Coalition said that it “is gladdened that this remarkable development will definitely open a more desirable chapter in the annals of the history of our Great Nation, Nigeria.”
According to Oluwole: “Therefore, on behalf of all Nigeria’s over 250 Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders, I hereby call on all leaders and members of the APC, irrespective of ethnic, religious or whatever backgrounds, to join hands together and Kindle the spark, which the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the keenly contested primary of his party represents, into a bright flame, by giving him a similarly overwhelming and resounding support to ensure that he wins the 2023 Presidential Election, to pursue the onerous Task of Nation Building and forging Unity of the newly emerging Nigeria.
“The Coalition of Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders of Nigeria recalls the selfless and heroic sacrifices of Tinubu and his compatriots in the trenches for a better Nigeria during our Nation’s dark days of military dictatorship and the protracted bloody pro democracy struggle, following the criminal annulment, in 1993, of the popular election of the legendary Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, of blessed memory.
“That election which was Nigeria’s freest and fairest ever, was indeed a watershed in the history of our Country, and a golden opportunity to build a stronger, more united and prosperous Nation in the interest of all, without discrimination. Unfortunately we missed this singular opportunity in the condemnable annulment!
“Now we want a Nigeria where no one will be oppressed on the basis of where he or she comes from, or whatever faith he or she professes, a Nation of opportunities given to all citizens and residents to pursue their endeavours and develop our innate talents freely for the Good of our Country and entire Humanity.
“We want a Country where the citizens and residents, irrespective of religious, ethnic, social or whatever backgrounds, feel happy, safe and secure in any part of our Country; a Nation whose leaders, especially at the Commanding Heights, will genuinely demonstrate in words and actions, a deep commitment to true nation building, unusual maturity, honesty, dedication, statesmanship, selflessness and indiscriminate personal sacrifices.
“It is for these reasons, among others, that we are saying that Nigeria is in great need of a Leader to whom we will all look up to full of hopes, confident that he will take his leadership as a sacred trust.
“Asiwaju, it will be racalled, once demonstrated unusual selflessness, courage and leadership, by putting his life on the line, sacrificing his comfort, freedom and all he had; and committing himself wholly to the protracted bloody pro democracy struggle, which eventually birthed the current democratic dispensation which all Nigerians are today enjoying.
“Notably, he even went on self-exile, where, unrelenting, he continued providing a deeply committed leadership to the heroic struggle for a Democratic Nigeria.
“We recall the selfless sacrifices which Tinubu and other activists made even at the greatest risk to their lives, during one of Nigeria’s darkest hours, in struggling for a better Country and the Democratic Dispensation that we are all enjoying today.
“While congratulating Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu once again, we wish him an equally resounding and overwhelming victory in the 2023 Presidential Election.”
