Buhari tells youths to suspend running for president until after his tenure as he signs new bill into law

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians youths not to capitalise on the Not Too Young To Run bill he signed into law yesterday immediately urging them to wait until the end of his tenure before aspiring for leadership.

Yesterday, in the presidential villa, President Buhari put his signature to a bill that will remove the bar on young people aspiring for political offices. He commended them for the effort at pushing that the bill be signed into law and encouraged Nigerian youths to work hard and not depend on white collar jobs for survival.

“Thus, it may be tempting for you to think of this as the end of the journey, however, it is only the beginning. There is still a lot of work ahead, towards ensuring that young people take full advantage of the opportunities provided not only by this constitutional amendment, but also through Nigeria’s boundless prospects.

“You should inculcate the spirit of self help. Those who complete their training should not just sit down and wait for government or private sector to employ them, you should be innovative and turn your hands to any legitimate work that will enable you to sustain yourself."

Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose said that by signing the bill into law, President Buhari should remind himself that he was too old to run,  hence he should vacate office for the youths. In a series of tweets, the governor said the country needs to be totally returned to the youths who own the future of Nigeria.

However, President Buhari said: “Please, can I ask you to postpone your campaigns till after the 2019 elections. Finally, let me say how proud I am and how proud the entire country is, of what you have accomplished. Congratulations and best of luck with continuing to work to make Nigeria a greater country for us and future generations of Nigerians.”

Governor Fayose added: " I commend the youths who championed the Not Too Young To Run agitation and urge them not to relent because it is not yet uhuru. We must totally return the country to the youths who own the future of Nigeria, as here in Ekiti, if you are above 40 years, you can’t be local government councillor.

“We must have a Nigeria where anyone who is qualified to vote can also be voted for, not this hypocritical signing of Not Too Young To Run Bill by the same president who said our youths are lazy and must not run against him in 2019. Today in Ekiti, the Peoples Democratic Party deputy governorship candidate is 39 year old and he became chairman of Ado Local Government Area at 35 but on the contrary, the All Progressives Congress deputy governorship candidate is 74 year old and was chairman of Ado Local Government Area 25 years ago."