By Jubril Bada

The Young Progressive Party (YPP) gubernatorial candidate in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, Mr John Akinmurele, popularly known as St John, has emphasised the potential of Nigerian youths to compete with their counterparts in developed countries if provided with adequate opportunities and leadership roles.

Speaking during a campaign walk in Akure, Akinmurele highlighted the challenges faced by the state’s youths, including rising school fees, high food prices, poor infrastructure, inadequate healthcare, insecurity, and unemployment.

Akinmurele said the youths in the state had long been denied various rights and privileges that would have improved their standard of living.

The governorship candidate, who itemised the hardships suffered by youths, pledged to address these issues by introducing free medical care, free education, welfare programmes for the elderly, improved agribusiness initiatives, and comprehensive youth empowerment schemes.

The YPP’s state chairman, Mr Dotun Ojon, also urged the electorate to resist vote-buying, emphasising the importance of safeguarding their future.

The campaign walk, which drew significant support, covered major routes in Akure, signalling the party’s grassroots mobilisation ahead of the governorship election.