LeadersNG, an online newspaper, had reported exclusively that the #67MillionYouth initiative is a brainchild of an aide of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ismael Ahmed and he has the backing of his principal to organise young Nigerian towards supporting his 2019 re-election bid.
According to the report, many of the promoters of the project were actually those that worked for President Buhari’s emergence in 2015.
“Though the organizers of the project said the 67MillionYouth Initiative is a coalition of Nigerians with the mandate to galvanize active youth participation in politics and leadership in Nigeria, our source told us in confidence that the initiative is aimed at galvanizing support for President Buhari who has lost popularity amongst the youths,” LeadersNG reports.
“Most of the rrustees of the initiative are active members of the All Progressives Congress with few others from other political parties which make up the list to make the initiative look non-partisan.
“One of the trustees by name, Debola Williams co-owned the RED media with Chude Jideonwo, that vigorously campaigned for the Nigerian leader to become president in 2015.
“The RED media according to LeadersNG investigation was contracted in 2014 by the then DG of Buhari’s Campaign Organization, Mr Rotimi Amaechi to help launder the image of the Nigerian leader whom many believed was a perpetual runner and unelectable leader.
“On the list of the #67millionyouth are prominent APC members and artistes who have been contracted to use their huge followership to sway young people”, the report stated.
Days before the report by LeadersNG, young Nigerians had taken to Twitter to question the credibility of the #67MillionYouth initiative, warning fellow young Nigerians to avoid the campaign as it was being used as a covert campaign tool to hoodwink unsuspecting young Nigerians to re-elect President Buhari in 2019.
Meanwhile, Banky W, a popular Nigerian singer and actor, has described as disappointing, frustrating and sad, a report that he alongside some Nigerian youths were contracted with the sum of N200 million (two hundred million naira) to put together the #67MillionYouth Campaign for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Checks by SIGNAL revealed that the Senior Special Adviser to President Buhari on Social Investment Programs, Ismael Ahmed is not just the only official of the Buhari administration who sits on the campaign, the Personal Assistant to President Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad is also a member of the #67MillionYouth project. Rinsola Abiola, one of the youngest members of the Board of Trustees of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is listed as a member of the initiative. There are several other young leaders within the ruling APC government who are founding members and Board of Trustees members of the #67MillionYouth initiative.
In the light of unfolding developments, political observers continue to raise concerns about the pro-Muhammadu Buhari stance of the #67MillionYouth initiative, wondering whose interests President Buhari’s core supporters and aides would be representing on the purported “youth” and “non-partisan” platform.
FRAUD ALERT!!! Dear @DebolaLagos and @Chude, after supporting Buhari in 2015, you have now returned with this new scam to defraud unsuspecting Nigerian youths. Sorry, it will not work. We are Nigerian youths and your @67MillionYouth Campaign DOES NOT SPEAK for us! pic.twitter.com/NaGszTtpLN
— The Nigerian Wailers (@NGRWailers) July 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/AtikuAIR/status/1022253781529047040
You launch a youth campaign claiming to be representing 67 million Nigerian youths and the list of your influencers is populated with CORE Buhari supporters. And you are non-partisan? We are not stupid!
— Ohimai Amaize (@MrFixNigeria) July 25, 2018
I have not said they are all bad people o. But the core of this so-called 67million youths initiative is Buharist. Their plan is to defame all existing Politicians as corrupt old breed, and at the end of the day, pitch Buhari as 'the Devil we know'
BEWARE! pic.twitter.com/wq5vwKShwq
— Prof Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) July 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/ThePakuma/status/1022196386375364608
The same people that sold and packed this evil old man called @MBuhari, have started again. The new one on board is called @67MillionYouth initiative. Their aim is to bring back BUHARI back in 2019. @segalink @DemolaRewaju @officialKolaO @jacksonpbn pic.twitter.com/O4aDoCAlkj
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) July 25, 2018
I wouldn't expect any reasonable Nigerian youth to fall into the 67million Youths Campaign been orchestrated by a group of people who once blindly sold the Nation into the slavery.
Forget about the branding and media push, we already know the direction from the start.
— Olúwatósìn Akínbùlúmò (@stevetosin) July 25, 2018
One youth said he was mobilizing 67 million youths to fight for the soul of Nigeria's democracy.
Check his TL to see if he has condemned this attack on our democracy. He hasn't. He was working for Buhari all along; like he did in 2015. May God continue to fish out the wolves.
— Chiemeziem MD (@DrChiemeziem) July 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/WealthyAA/status/1022156211335188481
In 2015, you scammed people by marketing a FRAUD. You have come again with same style. You couldn’t even change style.
A fraud is a fraud no matter the packaging. NEVER AGAIN pic.twitter.com/7skAcY74rL
— Comrade Deji Adeyanju (@adeyanjudeji) July 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/ceonigeria7/status/1022566536857444357
About this 67 Million youth nonsense.
Don't join a group that will rubbish your image tomorrow when you criticize their principal
— Olorogun (@DavidMOlorogun) July 25, 2018
Additional reports by Signal
