In a bid to ensure satisfactory representation in the 2019 General elections, the Youth Stakeholders of the All People’s Congress (APC), Southern Kaduna Chapter have publicly announced their intention to screen suitably qualified candidates who would represent the Southern Kaduna zone in the Senate come 2019.
In a press statement signed by the group’s spokesman, Sabo Douglas Fynest, and made available to CEOAfrica, the group revealed its intention to begin its screening process with Right Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, member representing Kachia Kagarko Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Assembly.
The decision to embark on the screening of Senatorial candidates for the zone, according to the statement, was born out of the hitherto political apathy of the youths in the zone as well as the desire to have a say in the selection and endorsement of a candidate who is considered qualified to represent the zone.
The statement reads in part: “We have found ourselves in a situation where we sit on our butts and wait for anybody that comes to contest for political seat to receive our blessings irrespective of how that person is or what that person represents, just because he or she feels qualified enough to contest. We have failed in raising the young, mentoring our own youths and also the ability to look through for a qualified candidate and urge them to contest as well as give such people our word, our support, and our mandate.
“It is in view of the aforementioned that we feel it is necessary to look through and bring out an enigmatic person to contest for the senatorial seat of our zone come 2019. We will no longer fold our hands and watch just anybody represent us in the senate come 2019. That person must have the requisite knowledge in the act of effective legislation, he must have at least served in the lower chamber effectively and have the political strength to push effectively for the southern Kaduna course from the first day to the last day of his stay in the senate.”
The youths who noted that since the beginning of the democratic dispensation in 1999, no Senator representing the zone had ever served for two consecutive terms in office, however decried the practice of discarding Senators after their first term as a result of poor performance. They therefore stated that it would be imperative to scout for candidates who are fit for the job.
“We will look for people who we believe possess the aforementioned qualities and urge them to contest for the distinguished seat and also throw our support behind such a person in order for our people to have a qualitative representation in the red chamber come 2019. Let us make it public therefore; that our searchlight and consultations will begin with no other person than Right Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba, Member representing Kachia Kagarko federal Constituency in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly. We will therefore, call for another press conference to intimate you on our findings and resolution,” reads the statement.
Meanwhile, TinkTank Group, a social activist group in Kachia Local Government told CEOAfrica in a chat that Hon Jagaba, who is also the House Chairman of Committee on Interior, is well loved by members of his constituents. “People of his constituency expresses happiness and satisfaction in his representation in the green chamber of the National assembly, Abuja,” the group said.