By Rikki Nwajiofor
In a significant boost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 reelection campaign, the Coalition of Southern Nigeria Youth Groups for Asiwaju 2027 (COSONYGA-2027), an umbrella body comprising various youth groups across Nigeria’s 17 southern states in support of the reelection of President Tinubu, has formally nominated and decorated former President of the Senate, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON, as its National Patron.
The ceremony, which took place in Abuja on thursday, was witnessed by a high-powered delegation from the coalition headed by its Executive Director, Rt. Hon. Rikki Nwajiofor, who also serves as the Hon. Speaker of the Ndigbo Youth Parliament (NYP). Carrying out the decoration, Hon. Nwajiofor described Sen. Anyim as “a political stalwart with an untainted political history worthy of emulation.”
“The task ahead of us, as a coalition clamouring for the reelection of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is onerous, especially for those of us from the South-East. We are aware of the challenges involved, but we are ready and willing to engage our youths, especially the youths at the grassroots, having you strongly behind us as our National Patron.
“Our engagements are devoid of confrontation and blind polarization along ethnic and religious lines. Our engagements are based on constructive policy discussions and sensitization. We must sensitize the youths at the grassroots about the transformative reforms of this administration and how they benefit young Nigerians and the nation at large. Some of them are unaware of many youth empowerment programmes initiated and currently executed under this administration of President Tinubu, such as NiYA – Nigerian Youth Academy; 3MTT – 3 Million Technical Talents; NELFUND – National Education Loan Fund; LEEP – Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme; SUPA – Skill-Up Artisans Programme; YEIDEP – Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development Empowerment Programme; IDiCE – Digital & Creative Enterprises; NATEP – National Youth Talent Export Programme, and many more.
“Your Excellency, you are among the few political leaders in Nigeria who have no case file with the EFCC, ICPC, or DSS. You served this nation passionately and patriotically. You stabilized the Nigerian Senate when it was in political quagmire, as the then president of the Senate. You are a political role model to so many of us. We nominated you as our National Patron owing to your unbeatable track records.
“Today, we decorate you and present to you the certificate of conferment as the National Patron of the Coalition of Southern Nigeria Youth Groups for Asiwaju 2027 (COSONYGA-2027), in recognition of your towering stature in Nigerian politics, your exemplary leadership credentials, and your unwavering commitment to national unity, development, and progressive governance”, Hon. Nwajiofor stated.
In his response, Sen. Anyim appreciated the coalition for choosing him to be the National Patron. He emphasized that his support for President Tinubu is borne out of his conviction that President Tinubu is a great reformer who has the interest of the next generation at heart.
“It was James Freeman Clarke who asserted that ‘a politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation’. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is a patriot and a statesman who thinks of the next generation and whose reforms and policies are not short-term oriented. His reforms and policies are geared towards a better Nigeria, in the interest of the young people and the next generation. This underscores my reason for standing with him and giving him my unalloyed support. He is a great reformer who sees beyond the immediate gain.
“I wholeheartedly accept this role and task you have bestowed on me today. However, you should know that you have a great task at hand. You are here today because you are enlightened and can understand the reasons behind the various policies and reforms under this administration. There are millions of young people and Nigerians out there at the grassroots, who are not as enlightened as you are and are not able to understand the reasons behind the initiated policies and reforms. Your task is to go and enlighten them.
“It is important to note that when the passengers in a vehicle begin to see clearer than the driver, the vehicle is bound to crash. In the same vein, once those at the grassroots who have the major votes and who are majorly unenlightened, mistakenly cast their votes to wrong channel, we all in this vehicle called Nigeria are bound to crash. It is your duty and the duty of all of us to ensure that this vehicle does not crash”, Sen. Anyim responded.
Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim is known for his historic election as one of Nigeria’s youngest and most influential Senate Presidents at age 39 (2000–2003). He equally played a tangible role as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) under President Goodluck Jonathan.
Since its official launch in May 2025, COSONYGA-2027 has positioned itself as a key youth-driven force in consolidating support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political analysts view this alliance with Sen. Anyim as a strategic masterstroke, blending veteran wisdom with youthful energy to bolster Tinubu’s bid for a second term.
