Youth, Students Coalition Drum Support For Ajimobi, Adelabu
A large crowd of youths and students on Thursday converged on Ibadan to drum support for the ambition of Oyo South Senatorial District candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, and state governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
At an interactive session organised by the APC youths and students leaders, the tumultuous crowd of youths and students drawn across the 33 Local Government Areas of the state vowed to work for the victory of the APC candidates.
One of the speakers at the event, Mr Adewale Ajala, said that the youths turned out in their numbers at the event as an endorsement of the APC and all its candidates.
Ajala said, “As enlightened and informed members of the society, we have seen the achievements of the APC at the national level and in this state. The party has made a huge difference in governance.
“We are promising to mobilise other youths, as well as our parents to vote for the APC in this coming election, because we don’t want any government that will drag the state and the country back.
“But, we want to appeal to you sir and our incoming governor to do everything within your capacity to reduce the school fees currently being paid by students in state-owned tertiary institutions.
“We also want payment of bursary award to students of the state origin and we will also appreciate it if a lasting solution can be found to the challenges confronting our institutions.”
Responding, the governorappealed to youths in Nigeria to embrace ethical values, quality vision and selfless spirit in their quest to attain leadership positions.
The governor challenged the youth to always seek more knowledge while aspiring to leadership positions and arm themselves with ethical values in their journey to success.
On the issue raised by the students, he said that a meeting would be held between his administration and the lecturers of the institutions concerned to find an amicable solution to the challenges.
Ajimobi said: “A leader must envision and have courage to implement his or her mission. You must always seek knowledge while aspiring to occupy leadership positions.
“People always say the youths are the leaders of tomorrow. I do not agree with that. I believe the leaders of today and tomorrow must be the youths who exhibit the traits of leadership.
“If you get to the position of leadership eventually, think and behave like a good citizen. A good leader must not only envision, he must be able to actualize the vision without fear of failure, opposition or criticism. Life is about value addition and exchange of ideas for intellectual development.
“Those who rule the world today are not those with power but those with knowledge to change the world. Therefore, I want to challenge all of you to always embrace the Yoruba value system, particularly regarding reverence for elders, no matter the generational change.”
The governor, while recalling his encounter with the protesting students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in 2017, said that he was happy that the matter was amicably resolved immediately, with the students apologizing to him.
He said: “I regard my encounter with the students in 2017 as another eye opener for those aspiring to lead others. The students are my sons and daughters. If I got angry that day but resolved to forgive them after realizing their mistakes and apologizing to me, then you all should learn to forgive and let go.
“I make bold to tell you that tough decisions are hard to take but a good leader must be resolute to take the decision in the overall interest of all.”