Politics
Sen. Anyim Sets To Rally Southern Youths for Tinubu, Decorated as National Patron of COSONYGA-2027
By Rikki Nwajiofor
Former President of the Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, has been decorated as the National Patron of the Coalition of Southern Nigeria Youth Groups for Asiwaju 2027 (COSONYGA-2027), a youth coalition campaigning for the re-election of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
The decoration ceremony took place in Abuja on Thursday, where a delegation of the coalition led by its Executive Director, Rikki Nwajiofor, presented the honour to the former Senate President.
COSONYGA-2027, an umbrella body comprising youth organisations across the 17 southern states of Nigeria, said the appointment of Anyim as its National Patron would strengthen its grassroots mobilisation efforts ahead of the next presidential election.
Speaking during the ceremony, Nwajiofor described Anyim as a political leader with an unblemished public record and a role model for young Nigerians.
According to him, the coalition’s mission is to engage young people constructively and sensitise them about the reforms and youth-focused programmes initiated by Tinubu’s administration.
“Our engagements are not based on confrontation or ethnic and religious polarisation but on constructive policy discussions and awareness,” he said.
He noted that many young Nigerians were unaware of several government initiatives targeted at youth empowerment, including the Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), 3 Million Technical Talents (3MTT), National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development Empowerment Programme (YEIDEP), Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (IDiCE), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
“These initiatives show the administration’s commitment to youth development and economic empowerment,” he added.
Responding, Anyim thanked the coalition for the recognition and said his support for Tinubu was based on his belief in the president’s reform agenda and long-term vision for Nigeria.
Quoting American theologian James Freeman Clarke, Anyim said a statesman focuses on the next generation rather than the next election.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a patriot and a statesman who thinks of the next generation. His reforms are designed to build a stronger Nigeria for young people and future generations,” he said.
The former Senate President also urged members of the coalition to intensify grassroots engagement to ensure that citizens understand the reasons behind the government’s economic and governance reforms.
Anyim, who served as Senate President between 2000 and 2003 and later as Secretary to the Government of the Federation under Goodluck Jonathan, is regarded as one of Nigeria’s influential political figures.
Since its launch in May 2025, COSONYGA-2027 has positioned itself as a youth-driven political platform aimed at mobilising support for Tinubu’s second-term bid ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Political observers say the alliance between the youth coalition and Anyim could strengthen the campaign by combining experienced political leadership with youth mobilisation across southern Nigeria.
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