A political pressure group known as the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has given an ultimatum to Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, to accept to run for 2023 presidency under any political party of his choice or risk political oblivion.
National Chairman of the group, Elliot Afio, said from its findings, Governor Bala remains the best presidential material for the country.
Presenting a letter of demand to the governor on Wednesday at the Government House, NYLF chairnan said the forum has searched and came to the decision that Bala Mohammed is the best presidential material for the country.
Afio further explained that, “during our last NEC meeting in Gombe, we scrutinized 47 people across the country and Bala Mohammed was one of the leading names that came up as one of the tops.
“We subjected the leading names into votes and Bala Mohammed emerged the winner and it was unanimously endorsed,” he said.
He said it had positive influence in all the presidential candidates elected since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1998, declaring that with a membership strength of over 4 million, the forum has strong base to be relevant in the political process of the country.
The National Chairman then declared, “I hereby present the letter of call to contest the 2023 presidency to you on behalf of the NYLF. Let me tell you that, if you decline our request, we will work against your political aspirations in the future”.
While responding, Governor Bala Mohammed said, “I am the most hunted and humiliated politician in the country, since 2007 when I defeated an outgoing governor to emerge the Senator to represent Bauchi South to the time I raised the motion on necessity and eventually appointed as Minister of the FCT, I have continued to face stiff opposition and political intimidation.
“I have refused to be intimidated, I have refused to budge and I have moved on to pursue the cause I believe in. To the glory of God, here I am today, the elected Governor of Bauchi State against all odds and political character assassination. Allah has indeed been gracious to me and family”.
The governor said “We came to Bauchi State with fire of determination to develop the state and make it better than what we met in 2019. To the glory of God, we have been able to make significant progress within the past two years and we intend to continue to do that until the end of our term in office “.
On the call by the forum, Mohammed said ”I will not categorically give you an answer, I will have to make consultations across all political divide in the country after which I will come out with my position.
“I rely on the leading of Allah and my political constituency. Just give me between two and three weeks and I will get back to you with a definite answer.”
He also promised to consult people from his constituency, journalists, civil servants, friends, governors, politicians and many people.
He said “Your initiative, even if I didn’t become a President it’s an honour done tome, and to the people of the state and the entire north eastern State.”
The Bauchi State Governor stressed that the country is walking on a precipice, saying something urgent needs to be done to salvage the situation and make the system work again.
“I am a fulfilled politician who rose from nothing to something both in public service and political scene. God has been very faithful to me and my family and does not need to struggle for anything again in life. Therefore, I will not categorically say yes to your proposal for now“.
In a brief remarks, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hamza Koshe Akuyam said as politically motivated people, they are ready to go the way the governor is going as far as 2023 is concerned.
Koshe Akuyam commended NYLF for choosing Bala Mohammed for 2023 presidency saying that the country has a lot to gain from a Bala Mohammed presidency considering his acceptability across the country among the political class.
