2019: Anioma Youths make bold statement

In a rare show of determination, the youths of Delta North Senatorial zone, otherwise known as Anioma, have made a bold statement towards ensuring they have a candidate of their own choosing elected Senator in 2019 as against the extant order of Godfather-imposed candidate.

This was demonstrated at Abavo town in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State over the weekend when the people of the three regions that make up Anioma trooped out enmass to welcome one of their own in the person of Smart Madu Ajaja.

Smart Ajaja, a US-based businessman, philanthropist and environmental and civil rights activist, has of late come under immense pressure by the youths of Anioma to declare his interest in the Delta North Senatorial seat in 2019. The youths said they are dissatisfied with their current representation in the Senate and are therefore set to make a change in 2019. They said that having closely monitored Smart Ajaja’s activities over the years, they are convinced he is the man they want to represent their interests at the Senate in 2019. They therefore called on Smart Ajaja not to disappoint them, but to accept the challenge.

To further demonstrate their determination, the youths have formed a think-tank group of mostly intellectuals, technocrats and business men and women known as Dream 19 to pilot the project to get Smart Ajaja elected Senator in 2019. Dream 19 is the brain box of the larger youth group known as Anioma Leadership Consortium.

On July 8 at Abavo, Anioma Leadership Consortium honoured Messrs Smart Ajaja and Barry Eka with the prestigious Anioma Leadership Award for Excellence. Barry Eka us a grassroots mobilizer with his eyes on Ika South chairmanship seat.

It is not clear yet under which political party Smart Ajaja would be answering the call of his people. He is obviously keeping that secret close to his chest. However, in his acceptance speech, he promised that if elected Senator, his focus would be on sponsoring “legislations that will be on the youths and children who have been at the receiving ends of, and whose future has been severely compromised and profoundly imperiled, by the actions of the elitist criminal gang in the Nigerian political class at all levels that has held Nigeria to ransom with a corresponding arrest of development, progress and prosperity complicated by an objectionable threat to national security.”

This reporter shall keep watch as events unfold towards 2019 in the weeks and months ahead. One thing is clear though. The youths of Anioma are set to make a drastic change in 2019. Only time will tell.