Protocol
Leaders and Members of our great party: the APC;
The dynamic, ever conscious and vibrant young citizens of Nigeria here represented by present and former Youth and student leaders across our land
Party Elders,
Women leaders
Young members of our party
and
Members of the press;
Ladies and Gentlemen
I welcome you all to this special occasion. I am delighted and feel very honoured by your presence at these august occasion.
That you could attend this event in Jalingo coming from all over the country both an encouraging and reassuring sign both for me, Taraba State and the North East Geo Political Zone.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for attending and the honour done us.
We are all here because we believe that “together a NIGERIA WHERE THE YOUNG PLAY A LEADING ROLE IS POSSIBLE, a renewed all inclusive APC” is a vehicle to make this possible.
We want to see our country become the envy of others and our political party the means towards this realization. We are here because we are of the firm believe that the time to hand over the reins of our nation’s affairs to a younger generation is now. It won’t wait anymore. It’s our country and it is the only one we have.
At the start of this campaign, we said; we would spend a lot of time listening to Nigerians from all walks of lives. In this campaign, We have had a number of people express the view that perhaps the party as a foundation, a platform for policy articulation, formulation and leadership recruitment could offer the nation much more.
That we should do more to young people who have invested time and time again, their hope and aspirations in the belief that political legitimacy can provide enduring platforms for positive change.
We have fallen short, our nation and it’s polity now needs to build from the ground up.
We need to support our party, not as enemies of each other but as Nigerians fully conscious of our role in Nation building.
After a nationwide Consultation amongst young people across the six geopolitical zone my answer has been straightforward: There is only one way to make our desire for a new APC come to fruition for the benefit of young nigerian s. And that is to take a younger, fairer, dispassionate and future leaning look at our party and Nigeria.
Young Nigerians after consultations have assured me of thier full support to lead our party as it’s next elected chairman.
We all are aware how we started. We all know the truth. We know that our party needs a turn around, and it will only take a young politician with vigour, uprightness and focused disposition to bring about the needed transformation that is now urgently needed. It is not enough for young Nigerians that APC hold power, they want to see younger transitions, comparable visions with other nations that are also doing well.
I have gone across the nation as stated earlier in my address young people have challenged me to get the support of my people: “Your people, my own people” and leave the rest for them. Great Tarabans; I need your support as I seek to provide leadership for our great country at the national level.
In this race we must come out victorious.
Great People of Taraba: We must go to Abuja and with other young people nationwide make our nation once again a land of Unity, peace, progress .
I, MB Mustapha urge all of you to stand by me and take the message to the grass roots and would be delegates that young Nigerians are coming home with the Chairmanship of this great party with the support of future leaning elders.
How long are we going to be playing nonchalant (I don’t care)? Do we want progress that our party stands for to get to the grass roots? Now is the time for us to take what rightly belongs to us!
Your son, husband and father has what it takes to lead our great party, the APC. It is with these, that I, Mohamed Bello Mustapha here and today in Jalingo, my home town , (Nature’s Gift to the Nation) declares that I will fight to rebuild our party, make young people it’s centerpiece and return it to a path of progress. Let the message go out from here to the four corners of our land and to Nigerians in Diaspora that a new Nigeria is possible, that the APC is given power to mould leadership to young Nigerians in line with the pledge of the party in 2019 to handover power to young Nigerians.
Recently, the “Not Too Young To Run” bill was signed into law with a declaration that the younger generation should brace up for leadership. Now is the time as the present and future signal that, we, the younger generation are ready to lead and do it right and better for generations coming behind us.
Let me say that my declaration today is a humble response to the call of Mr. President Mohammadu Buhari and political leaders nationwide for the young Nigerians to take up leadership.
You would all agree with me that our nation is more divided now along primordial sentiments than ever. We need to bring back the lost unity of this great nation, our dear nation Nigeria. This is not the nation our forebearers envisaged, But how can we achieve this? We must rise up and be actively involved in political activities of our country beginning from the party level.
We will offer leadership that will stand the taste of time in line with the party ethics and wise counsels of the progressive elders, encouraging young people to get involved. No Nigerian will suffer discrimination in the party. We shall re-write history of our great country using the party as a vehicle for building credible Institutions, that will ensure that all voices are heard. That the voice of more that 100.million younger minds collectively become truly the conscience of our nation.
I, MB Mustapha pledge before you my great respectable party members and good people of Taraba, and Nigerians here gathered in line with the tradition to fight for our tomorrow.
From the level of organisation now taking place politically amongst our young citizens nationwide. Nobody, group of individuals or entities can take the will of young people fore granted anymore.
As we begin this journey towards national rebirth, we will have course to interact with the press from time to time as we travel around our dear country to further deepen our engagement.
WE SHALL DO THINGS LIKE NEVER BEFORE. WE SHALL RUN AN UNUSUAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICE OF OUR PARTY AND GOD WILLING WE SHALL WIN.
WE URGE YOU GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS, THE FOURTH ESTATE OF THE REALM TO WAKE UP AND SUPPORT THIS CAUSE TO CHANGE OUR COUNTRY FOR THE BETTER.
THERE IS NO GOING BACK GENTLEMEN.
I once again wish to thank former Nans leaders. Former Youth council leaders who came from the nook and cranies of this country to grace this August gathering.
I remain forever in your debt for the confidence reposed in me.
Long live APC Taraba State!
Long live the good people of Taraba State!!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!