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  • Do not despair, Balami charges youths on birthday 

    Do not despair, Balami charges youths on birthday 

    Popular aviator and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Comrade Isaac Balami, has charged youths not to lose hope in the country amid challenges, stating that difficulties of the moment are are ‘propellers’ that can drive their dreams.  

    The renowned youth leader gave this advice in his birthday message posted on his X handle @balmiisaac on Monday. 

    The former national Deputy Campaign Manager of the Labour Party(LP) clocks 41 on Monday, August 25th.

    Balami, in the birthday message, said his life is enough to inspire millions of Nigerian youths who may have lost their hopes in the country.

    He said like him, consistency and self-belief will take them to their destination. 

    According to him: “Today, I turn 41. I am deeply grateful to God for the gift of life, strength, and purpose.

    “Birthdays for me are not about fanfare but reflection, gratitude, and the moment we renew our commitment to our life journey and expectations. 

    “Turning 41 carries a profound meaning for me. In the Bible, Jesus embarked on 40 days prayer and fasting. This was a breakthrough in his spiritual mission. To me, 41 symbolizes stepping into that season of manifestation, after years of preparation and perseverance,” the youth activist wrote. 

    Reflecting on his life journey, Balami said, “In a flash, my life is a journey of grace and resilience. From humble beginnings in Borno to becoming an aviator and now leading initiatives that touch aviation, education, and philanthropy, I see God’s manifestation. 

    “In this journey so far, I have worn many caps, even as an engineer, entrepreneur, union leader, and now CEO of 7Star Global Hangar & Airlines. I also founded the Isaac Balami Foundation (IBF) and the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM). Through these platforms, I’ve realized that self-belief, when matched with action, can transform lives.”

    He said the greatest gift God has bestowed on him was the passion to lift others.

    “By sponsoring 160 young Nigerians in aviation training and creating opportunities where none existed gives me the greatest joy,” he said. 

    According to the former President of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers, many of the young Nigerians he empowered are about to kickstart their career in the aviation sector. 

    He went on to state that his story is that of resilience and a message to young people not to give up. “Keep the hope alive. Believe in yourself. Believe in Nigeria,” he advised. 

    Admitting that times are tough, Balami said, “I can relate with the frustration because I’ve travelled the path. But challenges are not roadblocks; they are runways. Use them to take off – run on them. 

    “I started in aviation without  godfather, no resources, no connection. I had only faith and determination to push through. It wasn’t smooth ride but I was consistent, marrying my vision with tenacity.  

    Read Also: Balami hails Tinubu, Zulum’s zeal amid challenges

    “The simple truth is that your dreams are valid. No matter how hard it gets, do not let your environment kill your vision.

    “Today is not about hosting a big party but recommitting to the work ahead – Building 7Star Global Hangar & Airlines into a world-class brand, expanding IBUAM to produce not just aviators but innovators who will lead Africa’s aviation future, strengthening IBF to empower more young Nigerians with opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.”

    “My dream is simply to see a Nigeria where young people are the architects of opportunities and not just seek them; a Nigeria where we build aircraft, not just to fly them; a Nigeria that exports talent instead of losing it to brain drain.

    “So, as I step into this 41st year, my message is clearly that of hope and self-belief. Don’t give up. Stray true to your dream,” he concluded.

  • Media attacks on Seyi Tinubu affront on youths, less privileged – Balami

    Media attacks on Seyi Tinubu affront on youths, less privileged – Balami

    An All Progressives Congress(APC) chieftain and youth advocate, Comrade Isaac Balami has condemned the constant attacks on Seyi Tinubu, son of the President.

    He stated that an attack on him should be seen as an attack on youths and the less privileged who he said Tinubu has dedicated his time to the protection of their rights and privileges.

    Balami, who referenced the recent video of Seyi Tinubu when he accompanied President Bola Tinubu to Rome for the inauguration of the Pope said most of such narratives were aimed at debasing Seyi. 

    He  urged youths to rise against individuals who have been contracted to construct narratives meant to continuously disparage Seyi Tinubu despite his good intentions.

    Faulting the nature of politics which aims to target individuals considered to be gaining popularity in the political space, Balami said: “Such is clear politics of bitterness aimed to pull individuals down for the interests they tend to protect. I don’t know why some people are only interested in pulling someone down so as to gain relevance. One doesn’t need to disparage someone or manipulate narratives to succeed. I advise those with the “Pull Him Down” syndrome to know that they can still succeed without necessarily trying to pull others down.”

    He recalled how in one month, Seyi Tinubu was the target of different online bullies, referencing the incident of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, factional President who later apologized to him. 

    The former spokesman for the Trade Union Congress (TUC) further said no month will pass without traducers dragging him on social media.  

    Dismissing the video that Seyi Tinubu was stopped from having a handshake with the Pope, Balami said from his observation,  the young man was never going to have any handshake in the first place.

    “From the video, it is clear that Seyi Tinubu was only going to join his dad after the handshake and was simply directed to meet him on the other exit as they were about to exit the place. How someone will just sit down to initiate this narrative is beyond me. 

    “How do you conclude on what you have no empirical evidence to prove? How does mere protocol define someone’s intention? Those peddling this must stop now.”

    “I believe the growing popularity of Mr. Tinubu whom it has been suggested is eyeing the governorship seat in Lagos in the next election has been giving some people sleepless nights. Such individuals would do anything to demarket him. But then, it is too late. Already, Mr. Tinubu is loved by young people. The level of investment on Nigerian youths remains unprecedented and Nigerian youths won’t abandon him when he needs them.”

    Balami said Seyi Tinubu is a role model to many young people based on his responsible lifestyle. 

    According to him:” We have seen cases when a president’s son and other dignitaries who escorted past presidents to such an event were engrossed in frivolity as against participating in what actually took them there.” 

    Read Also: NANS urges Seyi Tinubu to remain focused, ignore critics

    “Some will go to nightclubs, drink and party away. But we all saw how Seyi, not minding anything travelled with his father and stayed glued till the end. Many young people won’t have the time for this and would deliberately avoid the trip because it is not about partying and others. I believe Seyi Tinubu is a unifier and has the capacity to unite young Nigerians.

    “What should bother young Nigerians is the level of support from Seyi Tinubu and his foundation,

    “I believe the record is there for everyone to see. Seyi Tinubu’s support for young people knows no bounds.”

    While cautioning young people against  social media bullying, the APC chieftain wondered if the privileged Seyi Tinubu can go through this type of online bullying, then what becomes of the ordinary youth who aspires for bigger and better offices in future. 

    He called on Nigerian youths to form a formidable force against those waiting to see the downfall of Seyi Tinubu.

    “If at this time that the world is moving at such a speedy pace we are still talking about a handshake, then we have a long way to go.

    “While seyi is investing in the Nigerian youths through his numerous positive engagements, michieve makers are rather investing on media propaganda to discourage the good young man,” Balami said.

  • Balami dumps Obi, LP, returns to APC

    Balami dumps Obi, LP, returns to APC

    Aviation expert and youth activist, Comrade Isaac Balami, has dumped the Labour Party (LP) and returned to his former party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Balami, a former National Deputy Campaign Manager for Obi/Datti in the 2023 presidential election, announced this at a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Giving his reasons for dumping the LP, Balami recalled why he dumped APC ahead of the last presidential elections, stating that it was only reasonable to revisit his decisions after the mess he encountered in the LP compared to the one year of Tinubu’s administration.

    He said Tinubu has shocked him in just one year in office with regard to the Muslim-Muslim ticket which he vehemently opposed.

    He said the Muslim-Muslim ticket was the major reason he crossed to the LP but that he has now seen that it actually means nothing.

    According to him: ” Tinubu has so far empowered more Christian
    northerners and other Muslim ethnic nationalities since Nigeria returned back to Democracy. There is nothing that trips me like equity and fairness.”

    The former National President for Aircraft Pilots and Engineers said: “No president has ever worked with the middle belt like President Bola Tinubu,” highlighting areas the administration has done well, including appointing credible Nigerians with more emphasis on equity.

    ” That was not what I saw when I left. I now see a better party and a better government. I can see a Nigeria that in a few years will thrive and I think it is only important for us to work with APC in its effort to rescue this country.

    “Consequently, after consulting widely with leaders across Nigeria, the middle-belt caucus, my parents and my immediate family, it becomes expedient that I resign from the Labour Party. I will now return back to the APC.”

    Balami said he was happy with the level of inclusiveness under the current administration.

    The former TUC spokesman, while moving to the LP a year ago, said he was sacrificing for the good of the country and thousands of youths who believed in him.

    Read Also: Alleged N82b fraud: Court recommends Yahaya Bello’s lawyers for disciplinary actions

    He said then: “In order to contribute to confronting the leadership challenges we face as a country as my commitment to save our fatherland, I have decided to sacrifice my entire investment and life’s work, to join the teeming Nigerian youths and indeed all Nigerians yearning for good governance.

    “I have sold my majority stake in my aircraft hangar as well as my airline, to join my fellow Nigerians in the Obidient movement, just so I can more dedicatedly fight this struggle to rescue the soul of this great nation. This is my sacrifice! What is yours?”

    The former number three man of Peter Obi’s campaign organisation said he had thought that LP had all it takes to take over Nigeria and restructure it on the path of progress but regretted that the leadership crisis in the party and some obvious leadership incompetence had destroyed the party.

    “There is every indication that Nigeria cannot be redeemed through the Labour Party. As I move with my entire structure back to my former party, I urge them to join me in working with the APC to redeem our dear country,” Balami said.

    He expressed optimism Tinubu will look into the food and energy crisis in the country, urging him not to relent in ensuring that a reasonable agreement is reached with the organized labour in order to assuage the hardship he inherited.

    He thanked Obi and Sen. Datti, for giving him the opportunity to serve in his campaign team, and wishing him well in his future endeavors.