By Julius Alabi, Akure
National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Council (NANS-JCC) has thrown its weight behind Dr. Marindoti Oludare for the position of deputy for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Oludare, best known as Marindoti, a US-based medic, launched his own campaign for the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year, and also stood by Aiyedatiwa in the testy days of impeachment plot.
In a letter to Governor Aiyedatiwa, routed through the Ondo State chairman of the NANS-JCC, Comrade Oluwarotimi Tobiloba Joshua, the body averred that 35-year old Marindoti, as a youth, had proved his mettle and could be vouched for, to complement effective delivery of services to Ondo people, under Aiyedatiwa.
Besides urging the governor and the ruling APC to consider its stance, the NANS similarly appealed to parents and guardians in the state to support its move towards making the youths get a high state in governance, experimenting with the choice of Marindoti.
“This is our reasonable appeal to our parents, guardians and every lover of Ondo State, that having resolved through engagement of the Students’ Union leadership of tertiary institutions in the state, it is our wish that you all will share this aspiration with us and we hope to effectively pursue it by recommending Marindoti as Deputy governor to Governor Orimisan Ayedatiwa.
“Marindoti is a youth who has been advocating for the oppressed, and contributing to social development.
“We are convinced that with his youthful energy, he will inspire the youths of Ondo state and also be their mouthpiece, because the youth’s constituency is and remains the largest,” it averred.
The NANS added that Marindoti had been a loyal and staunch APC member who worked for President Tinubu and defended him vehemently across the country and on virtually all social media platforms, in the uncertain era of the presidential campaigns, early last year.
When (former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin) Emefiele put Nigerians in suffering, he was among the set of patriotic Nigerians who criticised the policy as being anti-people and an act of economic sabotage.
“Even before the Governors took CBN to Court, Marindoti had filed a case against the CBN with the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, all the way from the United States,” it stressed.
The NANS noted, however, that “Marindoti’s pro-people advocacy is simply because he can’t tolerate the suffering of Nigerian students, as he has been an advocate for youth development and youth inclusion in politics and he particularly defended the Governor when he was beleaguered by the powers-that-be when he was a deputy governor.
“If chosen as the Deputy Governor, Marindoti will bring a unique combination of skills, expertise and passion to the role, and he will work tirelessly to support the drive for progress, promote unity, and foster a brighter future for all.”
It stated further that with several years of experience in public service to humanity, Marindoti had consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of the complexities of governance and a passion for improving the lives of our citizens, adding, “as a result, his commitment to issues is unwavering, and his leadership style is characterised by inclusivity, empathy and a willingness to listen.
The NANS-JCC thus concluded in its missive to the governor that “the Nigerian youth will feel included, represented and will be confident that their voices will reflect in decision-making, in Ondo state”.
