The Kogi State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has expressed its determination to work for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 presidential election.

The youth in their numbers staged a solidarity road walk from Youth House in Lokogoma area of Lokoja which terminated at the Kogi Government House where they were received by Mr Edward Onoja, the Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello.

Mr Isreal Alonge, the chairman of the council, said the match was tagged: “First Kogi Youth Solidarity Walk For Buhari/Osinbajo, Next Level 2019, tagged: “Let’s Do It Again For PMB/Osinbajo”.

Alonge, who spoke after the road walk, maintained that the APC-led federal government under the leadership of President Buhari had performed very well especially in the area of youth empowerment programmes and infrastructural development.

According to him, Buhari’s government has empowered many Kogi youths under its Social Investment Programme (SIP) such as N-Power, Market Moni, Conditional Cash Transfer, Home Grown School Feeding and STEM.

“This youth solidarity walk is to tell President Buhari that Kogi youths are in full support of his regime and we are assuring him of our votes in 2019.

“We are doing it again for Buhari and Osinbajo, and particularly for assenting to the “Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill”, thereby enabling more youth participation in the electoral processes”, he said.

Alonge added that the event was also aimed at sensitising Kogi youths on the need to shun violence, thuggery and other vices before, during and after the general election.

Mr Edward Onoja, while receiving the youths, commended them for the initiative and for reaffirming their “unflinching support” for Buhari and Osinbajo, saying they have made the right choice.

Onoja said that Governor Yahaya Bello and President Buhari were committed to youth-oriented programmes which had reflected in their appointments and programmes.

According to Onoja, over 12, 000 Kogi youths who had “no connection or godfather”, are currently benefitting from the N-Power Programme initiated by President Buhari.

He added that the APC federal and Kogi governments, have performed well in terms of building infrastructure, youth empowerment, economy and fighting corruption.

Onoja, therefore, promised that Gov Bello would fully incorporate the youth into the 2019 APC campaign election program, tagged: “Operation Win Your Polling Unit”.