YOUTHS in Ekiti State rallied in Ado Ekiti, the state capital against what they said was the failure of the past governments in the state as well as past governors elected on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The youths claimed that the past administrations had failed in the delivery of the democracy dividends to the people of the state and expressed their preference for a candidate from a different political party in the coming election.
The youths specifically asked the people to reject any candidate presented by Governor Ayodele Fayose for the poll, just as they advised that the attempt by former Governors Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni to return to the government should be rejected.
During the procession, which started at Adebayo area and terminated at Ajilosun, leading to traffic snarl on the Ado Ekiti dual carriageway, they said the state has made no remarkable progress under the leadership of the trio to warrant their dominance on Ekiti politics.
The youths unanimously adopted the candidacy of Com. Tosin Ajibare, from Ikere in Ekiti South senatorial district for the governorship race on the premise that past leaders have failed the populace.
Ajibare is to contest the election under the banner of the Independent Democrat (ID).
Addressing the crowd at the party’s secretariat in the state capital, Ajibare said the youths will begin what he called a ‘political revolution’ in the state in 2018, describing the recycling of leadership as the greatest impediment militating against the state in all spheres.
“To underscore the level of failure of these past and present leaders, they advised us to go to school, we did that but nothing happened afterward. No jobs, no bursary, no scholarship. All they wanted to be using us for is political thuggery.
“We have been helping them to rig elections but we say no to that in 2018. A young man of 35 years can’t feed himself and family in Ekiti. Our parents sent us to schools and they are still the ones taking care of us and our children, this is sad.
“But let me say this, we have to free ourselves. The revolution we are planning for 2018 is a real one and when we win, it is going to be a departure from the past. We will promote education, agriculture, healthcare system and we will fight corruption, because we know it was the greatest enemy of this country.
“We are assuring you, as youths, we knew where the shoe pinches and we will spare no efforts to turn Ekiti around by ensuring probity, accountability, transparency, and justice,” Ajibare promised.
A student leader in Ekiti State University, Com Valentine Ugochinyere, said students are paying between N100,000 and N150,000 in the institution in a poverty-stricken state like Ekiti.
“It is only a fool that will say a congo of rice and N200 is enough for him to keep him survive for a period of four years. Enough of this deception by our leaders.
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“They said they are promoting education, but no scholarship for students, no bursary and we are paying huge tuition fee.
“We have been fighting for them and in 2018, we must fight for ourselves because it takes a strong political will to be able to fight an already established system. But as valiant, we can achieve this.”