By Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto

SOKOTO — The Sokoto State chapter of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) has intensified its grassroots mobilisation drive, convening a statewide youth strategy meeting aimed at boosting participation in governance ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The high-level gathering, held on Saturday under the theme “Unifying the Wards, Building the Future,” brought together youth leaders and political mobilisers from all 23 local government areas of the state.

Party leaders described the meeting as a major step toward strengthening youth involvement in politics and positioning young leaders to play a more active role in shaping the future of Sokoto State and Nigeria.

The forum also provided an avenue for emerging political actors within the party to engage stakeholders and outline a vision for youth-driven leadership.

Among key speakers was Shamsudeen Aliyu Haido, a prominent figure in the party and a potential governorship aspirant, who called for a generational shift in Nigeria’s political leadership.

Haido expressed concern over what he described as a steady decline in Nigeria’s economic and political fortunes, arguing that the country’s past held more promise than its present.

“Our past was far better than the present. In the 1980s, the Nigerian naira was stronger and commanded greater value in the global financial space,” he said.

He warned that the continued dominance of long-standing political elites has limited opportunities for capable young leaders, criticising what he termed the growing trend of political succession within families and close networks.

“This culture of political inheritance has denied many capable young Nigerians the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to governance,” he added.

Haido urged youths across Sokoto State to unite and actively participate in the political process to challenge entrenched interests and redefine leadership in the country.

“We must come together and push aside the old political order that has dominated the space for decades without delivering the development our people deserve,” he said.

He also advocated a long-term national development framework focused on sustainable growth rather than short-term political agendas tied to election cycles.

Also speaking, the Sokoto State Chairman of the NDC, Bello Sani Yabo, called on young people to take responsibility for the nation’s future by engaging more actively in politics.

Yabo said entrenched political interests have slowed national progress and hindered the emergence of innovative leadership capable of addressing Nigeria’s challenges.

He urged youths to unite and build a political movement anchored on competence, integrity, and visionary leadership.

Participants at the meeting unanimously agreed that youth unity, increased political awareness, and sustained grassroots mobilisation would play a critical role in shaping the political landscape of Sokoto State and the country at large.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to deepen youth engagement in political processes, as the NDC positions itself as a growing force in Nigeria’s evolving political space ahead of 2027.