Alli-Balogun stepped down for another aspirant, Dayo Israel, an Executive Permanent Board Member of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board.
Alli-Balogun made the announcement at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, where he handed over his manifesto to Israel.
The APC is billed to elect a new National Working Committee at its national convention scheduled to hold on Saturday.
In his speech titled, ‘APC National Youth Leadership: I Am Stepping Down My Aspiration to Endorse Dayo Israel for Lagos Agenda and Mission Remains One and United,’ Alli-Balogun noted that his decision was based on advice by leaders of the party.
He said in part, “Some few days ago, after the zoning arrangements of our great party, APC is ratified ahead of the National Convention, a group of friends, associates, colleagues and admirers cutting across all, ethnic, social, religious, political and geographical divides call upon me to participate in the National Youth Leadership contest of our great party, All Progressive Congress, APC.
“I was profoundly humbled and I requested for a little time to engage in wide consultation with people that matter in the political scheme of things in our region.
“However, I have carefully considered the concerns expressed by some of our leaders, whom I deeply respect and whose support and counsel have taken me this far in life, to the effect that my aspiration into the national youth leadership race at this point may need reworking some equations on the political chessboard of the party in our State, Lagos and our region, Southwest.
“Hence, after consulting widely, taking into consideration the concerns of some elders of the party, I have decided to step down my participation in the national youth leadership contest. I have done so as a huge sacrifice for the cohesion and unity of the APC in Lagos and South-West, Nigeria.
“I am stepping down from my participation in the race, for I am not desperate to occupy any office. Whatever any one becomes in life is exclusively in the hands of God. Only God gives power to whoever he pleases through decisions of our leaders and I believe strongly in their judgments. I am using this medium to endorse the nomination of my good brother, friend and associate, a member of the same camp as Dayo Israel to become the next national youth leader of our great party.”
Alli-Balogun described Israel as humble, humane, versatile, widely travelled, full of experience and someone who has the interest of youths at heart. “I strongly believe that with him in the saddle our agenda for youths is covered,” he stated.
Alli-Balogun thanked a former Governor of Lagos State, National Leader of the APC and a presidential aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for “working so hard over the years on the democratic struggles of our dear country, which gives us the platform to jostle for political offices.”
The former aspirant also hailed Gbajabiamila for mentoring him over the years and giving him the platform to display his God-given abilities, and “for standing by me in this struggle and supporting my aspiration wholeheartedly as ever.”
He also thanked Sanwo-Olu for his leadership intervention and his selfless efforts for the “Lagos agenda and mission to remain one and united.” Continue Reading
