2019 elections: Support your own, Uduaghan urges Nigerian youths

AHEAD of the 2019 general elections, immediate past governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has called on youths to rally behind their colleagues running for elective positions.

This is just as the former governor has urged political parties in the country to reduce fees for Expression of Interest form as a way of encouraging youths to participate in the general poll and in the spirit of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run law.

The aspirant for Delta South Senatorial seat made these remarks at the 2018 Political Youth Conference organised by the Core Delta Youths as part of the activities to mark the International Youth Day in Warri.

Uduaghan told delegates at the conference that 2019 should be a testing ground for the Not-Too-Young-To-Run campaign in the country.

He stated that youths should be eager to change the old narrative by supporting their colleagues who are vying for political positions rather than running them down.

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Tribune Online reports that a number of seasoned youths such as Fela Durotoye, Kingsley Moghalu and Omoyele Sowore among others, have shown interest to contest for the president seat.

Uduaghan, who arrived the venue of the event before its commencement, urged young people seeking leadership positions to first learn to manage time before seeking to lead.

While tasking youths to borrow a leaf from world young presidents like Emmanuel Macon of France, Uduaghan urged them to register in the ongoing Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR) ahead of the elections.

“When young people stand for election, they don’t enjoy the support of fellow youths. They are still the ones that try to bring their fellow youths down.

“Any youth standing for election must focus on mobilizing the youths instead of running down older candidates as a form of manifesto.

“Our political parties should lower their fees for expression of interest form for youths especially ahead of 2019 general elections because without it the campaign for Not-Too-Young-To-Run which was recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari will be a mirage.

“2019 will be a testing ground for young people seeking to lead. Youths must support themselves for elective positions.

“Nigerian youths must borrow leaf from global young presidents such as Emmanuel Macron of France,” Uduaghan averred.

Earlier, Coordinator of Core Delta Youth, Mr. Uyero Erarawewho in his opening speech, charged the youths to shun violence and thuggery.

“We can only change the old narratives if we stand up as youths to engage ourselves positively in politics as we make up 65 per cent of the electorate.

“We have to be relevant and that is what Core Delta Youth stands for, being committed to good governance and 30 per cent inclusion of youths in government,” Erarawewho enthused.