The Director of New Media of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, who also serves as Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Hon. Dada Olusegun, has urged young people in Northern Nigeria to protect the political and economic reforms initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, declaring that the progress made since 2015 must not be truncated.
Olusegun made the call on Friday in Kaduna during the official flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign, where he highlighted the administration’s policies on education, infrastructure, economic reforms and industrial development.
He described the APC as the strongest political party in sub-Saharan Africa and urged party supporters to remain committed to what he called the political journey that began in 2015.
“We are not where we want to be, but we are not where we used to be. We have the duty to ensure that, no matter what happens, our revolution that we started in 2015 must not be truncated,” he said.
Speaking on the administration’s economic policies, Olusegun acknowledged that Nigerians were facing difficulties but argued that government resources should be directed towards initiatives capable of benefiting a greater number of citizens.
“The truth of the matter is this: would you rather have the Federal Government paying subsidy in billions of naira to one individual, or use those resources to send hundreds of thousands, even millions, of students to school?” Dada Olusegun asked.
He also cited the administration’s education policy, particularly the student loan scheme, as an example of its efforts to expand access to higher education.
According to him, the policy is helping students pursue their academic ambitions without being held back by immediate financial constraints.
Olusegun contrasted the current administration’s approach to university education with the prolonged industrial actions that disrupted academic activities in previous years, arguing that students who gained admission into universities in 2023 should now be approaching graduation or their final year.
“Those who entered 100 level in 2023, as of today, they are either in their final year or about to graduate. Is that not true?” he asked, drawing responses from the audience.
On infrastructure, the APC campaign official pointed to improvements along the Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, recalling the difficulties motorists experienced on the road in previous years.
He said his recent journey along the route was more comfortable, noting that although the road might not be completely finished, he observed improvements that made travelling less stressful.
“I drove on that road and slept throughout the journey. I had no fear at all,” DO said.
Olusegun also referenced the administration’s tax reforms and infrastructure development as part of its broader economic agenda, urging Nigerians to assess the government’s policies and their impact on national development.
Turning to the political choices before young Nigerians, he urged youths in the North to scrutinise the records of political leaders and resist attempts to reverse the reforms introduced by the Tinubu administration.
“Those who want to take us back, those who want to take this country backwards, the young people of Northern Nigeria must know where to say enough is enough,” he said.
He further called for the continuation of the political relationship between the North and the South, invoking the legacy of the late President Muhammadu Buhari and his political partnership with Tinubu.
Olusegun expressed optimism that the political understanding between the two regions would endure, adding that, in his view, the North would have another opportunity to produce the president by 2031.
He also addressed longstanding public concerns about electricity supply, police custody and university strikes, saying the Tinubu administration had made progress in tackling some of the challenges Nigerians had become accustomed to over the years.
According to him, while challenges remain in the power sector, the administration has made progress on other fronts, including efforts to ensure greater stability in the university system.
Olusegun called on APC supporters and young Nigerians to remain engaged in the country’s political process, stressing that the decisions made today would shape the future direction of Nigeria.