Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, has been endorsed as the “right and best choice” to succeed Buhari in 2023 by the Christian Youth Leadership Network.

The group made this known in Abuja on Saturday during the opening of its two-day National Retreat with the theme: “Kingdom Dimension: Effective Leadership and Governance”.

Convener of the retreat, Faith Eches, said Mr Bello would change Nigeria’s narrative, “considering his leadership strides in Kogi State.”

Mr Eches said the choice of Mr Bello was also in line with the thoughts of former President Ibrahim Babangida, who says Nigeria should be ruled by someone no more than 60 years.

“The 21st century has been encroached upon even by those who had said some 30 years or 40 years ago that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, which never came to pass.

“But today marks the epoch in the history of our nation, Nigeria, where the youth should come to the fore and master the destiny of Nigeria.

“Our very own person in the 21st century, who boldly challenges the conventional tides and customary patterns of method and procedures of doing politics in Nigeria, is Gov. Yahaya Adoza Bello of Kogi.

“We the youth of this country, under the umbrella of Christian Youth Leadership Network, represented from across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are saying Yahaya Bello is the best.

“We gladly, confidently and most assuredly bestow upon Gov. Yahaya Bello our choice of endorsement as the next President of Nigeria come 2023, by the special grace of God.

“The only right choice of President that can actualise the collective dreams of Nigerians in the face of our crucial realities is a sincere Nigerian, a compassionate leader and a passionate goal-getter. That is what we need as a people.

“Gov. Yahaya Bello is a Nigerian, a willing citizen and a servant of the people, who would rather not be served, but rather serve the country,” Mr Eches said.

Also speaking, Jonathan Maji, director of Springs of Life Resource Centre, said the choice of Mr Bello was because the governor has successfully collapsed ethnicity, godfatherism, and nipped insecurity in the bud in his state.

“He has been able to pull a string that if given the opportunity, being youthful, there is something he can drive home at this time. That is why the Christian youths have come out to endorse Gov. Yahaya Bello,” Mr Maji said.