Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Friday reacted to the Not Too Young To Run Movement which berated him for using its platform to declare his presidential ambition.
He said he meant no harm.
Saraki had, while addressing a dialogue organised by the youths, declared that he would be running for the post of the president in 2019.
But The Not Too Young To Run Movement took exception to the action of the Senate President.
In a statement by its convener, Samson Itodo, on Thursday, it described it as an abuse of the opportunity.
“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 personal political ambition,” it said.
Reacting to the statement by the group, Saraki said his action was taken in good faith to young PDP aspirants, partly as a symbolic act of encouragement.
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His statement which was signed by his media aide, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, reads:
“It has been brought to our attention that the Not Too Young to Run group has 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.”
