By Ahmed Akanbi
The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has called on Arewa students and young Nigerians to take responsibility for the nation’s future by voting for leaders based on competence and character in the 2027 general elections.
National Chairman of the SDP, Professor Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, made the appeal while receiving the leadership of the Arewa Students Forum at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
He said young Nigerians can no longer afford to remain passive amid worsening socio-economic and political challenges confronting the country.
Professor Gombe told the students, who he said represent about 2.1 million people, that their votes carry strategic weight and must be deployed to elect leaders with capacity, patriotism and fear of God.
“Leadership is our major problem in this country. When you don’t get it right at the level of leadership, you are not going to get it right at any level or in any sphere of human endeavour,” he said.
He noted that the margin between leading presidential candidates in recent elections had been small, stressing that the numerical strength of students could determine the outcome of future polls.
While describing the Arewa Students Forum as non-partisan, the SDP chairman warned that neutrality should not translate into indifference to the electoral process.
He urged the students to educate their peers, participate in voter registration and campaigns, and support candidates based on antecedents rather than ethnic, religious, regional or partisan considerations.
“You must be committed to educating your peers. You are of voting age. When you are 18, you are eligible to vote. You have to educate your peers so that they make the right choice in our elections,” he said.
Professor Gombe said Nigeria needs leaders who combine competence with character, cautioning that academic qualifications and titles alone cannot guarantee good governance.
“Character comes before learning. Learning without character is virtually nothing. Character matters in the life of an individual, community or nation,” he stated.
Drawing from his experience as a student union leader, he said student leaders in his generation tackled issues like the cost of food and essential commodities through substantive debates, which he argued were more impactful than some current National Assembly discussions.
He challenged young Nigerians to begin leadership now, warning that political challenges are particularly severe in northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The SDP chairman added that students are not obligated to join his party, but must be committed to electing credible and patriotic leaders regardless of party affiliation.
Earlier, the Arewa Students Forum honoured the SDP leadership, describing Professor Gombe as a servant leader whose humility, intellectual accomplishment and commitment to humanity set him apart.