National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Udeh Okoye and the sponsor of the “Not Too Young to Run Bill,” in the House of Representatives, Hon. Tony Iwulu, joined other PDP youth in Abuja on Friday to hail President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to the bill which lowers the age requirement to contest the presidency and the House of Representatives.
Addressing a press conference at the national secretariat of the party, Okoye, however, noted that the PDP will go a step further to broaden opportunities for the youth to confirm its status as a youth-friendly party.
Describing the presidential assent to the bill as a victory for the youth, the Okoye said: “We must thank our lawmakers for this, and Mr President for accepting to assent, for the first time, a progressive bill driven by the opposition for the interest of Nigeria.”
“We must appreciate the dogged commitment and effort of Hon. Tony Nwulu, who sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives and mobilized his colleagues in the National Assembly to support the bill which has been passed into law an assented to by Mr President.”
In affirming PDP’s youth credential, the Youth Leader recalled many federal appointees under former ruling party were young people who acquitted themselves well.
He added: “It has been the norm in PDP for the interest of the youth to be projected and protected. Please permit me to draw a few examples of this commitment of PDP to youth development and inclusion in governance.”
“The likes of El Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Oby Ezekwesili, Charles Soludo, Femi Fani-Kayode and a host of others were brought into government administration by PDP while they were still young.
“The youngest members of the two chambers of the National Assembly are PDP members like Hon. Tony Nwulu. In the State Assemblies, the youngest parliamentarians are PDP members, and even the youngest Speakers of State House of Assemblies are from PDP.
“It was under PDP administration of the country that the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligent Unit (BMPIU known as Due Process) was set-up in 2001, which ensured transparency in government procurements and spending. A youthful Oby Ezekwesili was appointed the head of BMPIU. She was 38 when she was appointed in 2001.”
He went on to speak about achievements of the PDP in office including the establishment of critical institutions across all sectors of the nation’s economy.
In his contribution, Iwulu who represents Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency in Lagos state explained that the PDP was the only party where the young people can find their voice.
The legislator called on Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as well as “the majority of the National Assembly members who are PDP at heart,” to return to the party because that was the only place they can find a home.
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