Aliyu Adamu Kumbashi hails from Mashegu local government area of Niger state. He is a serving Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Solid Mineral Development and Investment. He declared his interest to contest for the position of national youth leader under the All Progressives Congress, APC. In this interview with ASHENEWS, he says what his plans are for Nigerian youths, particularly the members of the party. Excerpts:
Why are you contesting to be APC national youth leader?
I want to contest for the position of APC national youth leader to, as a youth myself, fight to bridge the gap between the young and the older generation of Nigerian population. I will ensure that I lobby for strong positions to be allocated to the youth to enable sustainable integration of this class of persons into governance. We already have the Not-Too-Young to Rule law in place, which gives room for the young ones to contest any political position. The other segment is appointment to positions, which we will ensure that the youth take substantial part of. Already, the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been considering youths into positions with big portfolios. We will lobby to make sure that continues.
The youth do not seem united to fight for political positions, especially given their numerical strength…
This I will make sure happens if elected. I will make sure I galvanize the support of all Nigerian youths and unify them to be an active in democratic setting. The youths are my primary project. We will embark on sensitization for them to realise that with active participation, they would be recognised for challenging endeavors. They will partake in decision making processes of every administration.
What specifically do you want from the youth?
I am calling on the youth who are my fellow compatriots and on the great leaders of our great party, the APC, to give me the chance to lead the youth to prosperity. I humbly solicit their support and prayers. Like I said earlier, the youths are my primary project right from my university days. I started championing the course of Nigerian youths as far back as 2005 under the platform of All Nigerian youths movement with the sole aim of unifying the youths to be one and speak with one universal voice.
I became the pioneer national president of the organization cutting across the six geo political zones. We achieved wonderfully well in creating awareness about youths potentialities as instruments of development in the society. This gave birth to youths participation in active political space in Nigeria in 2015.
What…
Cuts… That apart, I contested for House of Representatives position to represent Kontagora/Mariga/Mashegu and Wushishi federal constituency under APC platform. That honestly gave me sense of direction and exposed me to certain important norms of our great society. It led to my conviction that the youths are the backbone of every societal development. We constitute the larger portion of the Nigerian population, estimated to be over two hundred million. Nigerian youths can currently dominate about sixty five to seventy percent of this country’s entire population (65-70%).
