Presidential Declaration: Saraki Reacts After Being Accused Of Usurping Not Too Young To Run Platform

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has reacted to the dissociation of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ movement from his presidential declaration on Thursday.

Saraki had declared his intention to run for the 2019 presidency at a town hall meeting organized by the youth movement which comprises mostly young political aspirants.

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But speaking after the Senate President’s declaration yesterday, the Not Too Young To Run movement said “The movement wishes to express its disappointment with Senator Saraki for usurping a platform designed for young aspirants to dialogue with party leadership to advance his personal political ambition,” adding that “We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate.”

Reacting however to the youth group’s statement on Friday, Mr Saraki admitted that the leadership of the group did not have prior knowledge of his presidential declaration, but argued that his intention was made in good faith.

“It is true that the Not Too Young To Run leadership had no prior knowledge of the content of the Senate President’s remarks,” said the Senate President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuf Olaniyonu.

“However, the announcement by the Senate President that he intends to throw his hat into the ring to contest for the Presidency was made in good faith to young PDP aspirants, partly as a symbolic act of encouragement.

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“It was not the intent of the Senate President to put the group or its leadership in an invidious position,” he said.

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