PDP knocks Buhari for asking youth not to contest against him in 2019

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment that the country’s youth should postpone their political ambition until after the 2019 elections. 

The party said the statement shows the president is not in support of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill.

While signing the bill into law on Thursday, Buhari had told the youth: “Please, can I ask you to postpone your campaigns till after the 2019 elections.”

Reacting via a statement on Friday, the PDP said Buhari’s comment is “degrading” and “completely unacceptable”.

The statement issued by Kola Ologbondiyan, the party’s spokesman, also noted that the remark shows “the disdain with which Mr. President holds the youths”.

The PDP said: “We want Nigerians, particularly the youths, to note that President Buhari’s position reflects the policy of his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC) not to allow our youths the opportunity to aspire at top levels.

“President Buhari and the APC have been using all manner of machinations to frustrate front line participation of the youths and of course the women in active politics and governance.

“It is unimaginable that a president can sign a law and immediately seek to suspend it. President Buhari’s attempt to talk down on and intimidate the youths from contesting against him in 2019 shows that he is not in support of the Not Too Young To Run law and only assented to it because he had no other option under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“We therefore urge Nigerians to be alert and wary of booby traps as well as land mines that the APC and the Presidency will set on the way to scuttle the quest for our youths to fully participate and aspire in our democratic process.”