Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives (reps), has urged Nigerian youths to vote for those with track records in next year’s general elections.
He made the call on Wednesday during a visit to his office at the National Assembly in Abuja by the executive members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by their President Usman Barambu.
“What I want you to do, as is done in advanced democracies, is to look objectively, and this is what is done in other countries, people run on their records,” he told the students who were on a “thank you” visit to him for his role in resolving the eight-month strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
“So, those are the issues that I think you need to consider. If a candidate does not have a record to run on and is talking about something else, it means that he doesn’t have a record to run on.
“The good thing is that most of the candidates, at least the frontrunners, have records.
“I’m not pitching for anybody here but look at their records. If you feel he deserves to be the President of Nigeria, please, do not hesitate. Vote for that person based on his record.
“Two of them have been governors for eight years, that’s the only record they have. One has been the Vice-President for eight years. So there are records, vote for records. Every candidate must run on his record.”
He added: “And I believe the way you have been equipped mentally, I have interacted with so many of you, I believe you’re savvy enough to be able to, in spite of all the noise and the smokescreen, zero in on the right person for Nigeria.
“Also pray, that’s very important. As you consider the candidates, also pray that God will guide you to make the right choice.
“I believe that it’s going to be a watershed moment in Nigeria and I believe that is exactly what is going to happen. That is the only charge I have for you today because that’s the most important thing before us in Nigeria right now.”
