Senate President Bukola Saraki

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has reacted to allegation by the Not Too Young To Run Movement that he unfairly ‘usurped’ the platform of the group to declare his presidential ambition.

Saraki had in an address he read at a dialogue with youths and young aspirants in Abuja organised by the Movement on Thursday declared his intention to run for the presidency in the 2019 general election.

But in a statement issued after the event, the group condemned the Senate President for using its platform to advance his presidential ambition.

“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 political ambition.

“We strongly condemn this act by the President of the Senate and dissociate ourselves from this political move. “As noted earlier, the movement reaffirms its identity as a non-partisan citizen-led movement dedicated to the defense of democracy, political inclusion and transformative leadership.

“The movement restates its commitment to sustain its engagement with political parties to ensure youth candidacy and democratic primaries by the parties.”

But Saraki in a statement titled ‘Our Response To The Not Too Young To Run Statement’ signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) on Friday said that though the leadership of Not Too Young To Run had no prior knowledge of the content his remarks,  his declaration and intention were ‘made in good faith to young PDP aspirants, partly as a symbolic act of encouragement.’

The statement reads: “It has been brought to our attention that the Not Too Young to Run group have issued a statement in relation to the announcement made by the President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, whilst addressing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and aspirants of the group.

“The occasion was first in a series of Dialogues organised by the Not Too Young To Run along Party lines. The first one is for young PDP aspirants. The subsequent ones are designed for the APC and other parties.

“It is true that the Not Too Young To Run leadership had no prior knowledge of the content of the Senate President’s remarks.

“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.

“It was not the intent of the Senate President to put the group or its leadership in an invidious position. The Senate President appreciates the contribution of the group to the development of our democracy and will continue to work closely with young people across the country in order to make Nigeria a better place for all.”