A coalition of Southern and Middle-Belt youth leaders, on Monday criticized the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress, and, President Muhammadu Buhari over the N100 million price for APC’s expression of interest nomination forms for presidential aspirants seeking to contest in the 2023 general elections.
The youths described the amount as “outrageous” saying the action confirmed “APC as a cesspool of corruption”.
The youth groups are the leader of
Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), Hon. Goodluck Ibem (president General), Forum of Middle Belt Youth Presidents led Terrence Kuanum, South West Youth Leaders Forum (SWYLF) led by Shittu Waheed, and South South Youth Forum (SSYF) led by Tito Zokumor.
The body wondered why President Buhari who had criticised the party nomination form fixed at N27.5million for presidential aspirants in 2014 ahead of the 2015 general as ” exorbitant ” would support the fixing of the same form for coming 2023 general election at N100million.
According to them, “The annual salary of the President of Nigeria is N14,058,820.00k. In four years, it would be (cumulatively) N16,235,280.00. How will someone apply for a job with N100million, other campaign expenses exclusive just to earn N56,235,280.00?”
They said, “As youth leaders of this country who have the interest of our nation at heart, we demand to know how someone whose salary will amount to N56,235,280.00 in 4 years will be applying for the same job with a whopping sum of N100million?”
“If an APC Presidential aspirant brings out N100million to purchase forms, spends all the monies needed to campaign round the country and settle political party heavyweights, and the person eventually wins, and, is sworn in as President, our country’s treasury will be emptied….”
The youth noted that such a president would also obtain foreign loans to pay back those who bankrolled his election.
They warned Nigerians that an APC- led federal government elected under the price of the party’s current nomination forms would impoverish the masses, and, run the economy dry.
