Former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Lanre Odubote, said it is regrettable that despite making up more than half of the population, young people between the ages of 18 and 30 often find themselves marginalized from the mainstream politics and decision-making mechanism in the country.
The former lawmaker expressed this concern while speaking at the inauguration of Nigerian Youth and Diaspora Forum For Tinubu (NYD4BAT), and launching of e-campaign for Bola Tinubu, which took place at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) building in Alausa area of the state.
This was just as the youth group, a global body led by Tito Phillips Jnr., said it was set to mobilize five (5) million youths for the presidential aspiration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu beyond the party line, even as it also described the former Lagos State governor as the best material for the president of Nigeria, comes 2023.
Odubote, however, quickly assured that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) fully supported youth to channel their energies, creativity and aspirations to become leaders in their chosen endeavours, whether in politics, governance, academics, science, medical line, law, among others, declaring that their destiny was not in any people’s hands but in their own hands.
Odubote commended the step taking by the group to rally support for the former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Tinubu, who is also the National Leader of APC, declared that the politician deserved the party’s ticket for his presidential aspiration.
Delivering a lecture on the Forum’s Intervention for Sustainable Leadership Beyond 2023, Odubote
recalled that Tinubu played a major role in forging understanding among the legacy parties that fused together into the ruling party in 2014, even as he noted that the former governor had been able to gather talents for the work of development in Lagos, and would same, if he becomes the country’s president, come 2023.
“Tinubu has been able to gather talents for the work of development in Lagos. He will do the same, if he becomes the president. He attained greatness through hardwork, integrity, courage and service to the country. He is intellectually gifted; he is naturally endowed,” he said.
Odubote further described Asiwaju Tinubu as a lover of youths, recalling that between 1999 and 2007 when he was governor, he appointed youths into his government and designed some development programmes targeted at them.
The former lawmaker, while noting that the APC creed remained that today’s youths needed real opportunities to participate in the political process and contribute meaningfully towards engendering practical solutions that could advance development and growth in every facet of life in the country, however, youths equally “have always demonstrated that willingness and the resilience and doggedness to foster positive, enduring change in our polity.”
He posited that for political systems to be representative, the youth must have a say in formulating ideas and policies for nation building, warning that when young people were disenfranchised or prevented from the political process, a significant part of the population had been ostracized and such lacuna could spell doom for such a country.
“Young people like you must have a say in formulating ideas and policies for nation building. You need to input your voices, you must be more active in community services and demand for leadership roles in politics and government.
In order to achieve greatness, I would like to advise you to shun thuggery and all other forms of criminal activities, especially cyber crimes such as Yahoo Yahoo, Yahoo plus, among others,” he counselled.
“I want to assure you again that we are solidly behind you in your quest for a better Nigeria. The support you are giving the Jagaban would go a long way in gearing others up towards ensuring their own contributions and ultimately the realization of our dream which is enthronement of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the next President of Nigeria next year,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of NYD4BAT), Philips Jnr., said the youths under the aegis, like their many Nigerians had been incredibly impressed by the political dexterity and contributions of the APC National Leader, Tinubu over the 23 years of Nigeria’s democracy.
Philips, while describing the body as a voluntary campaign support group, comprising Nigerian youths both at home and abroad, listed the focus of NYD4BAT to include organizing Nigerian youths both at home and in diaspora into a formidable political movement for good governance in Nigeria, and to campaign for Asiwaju Tinubu through a well-defined ideology and concept devoid of politics with bitterness.
Besides, NYD4BAT chieftain said the group was also poised to engage Nigerian youths on the state of the nation during electioneering campaign for positive attitudes devoid of violence, as well as garner 5 million votes for Tinubu’s presidential aspiration through a responsible campaign both on and offline by reaching out to other critical stakeholders.
According to him, the group will deploy adequately the social media platform, including Facebook, Twitter, among others to reach the Nigerian youths through entertainment, sports, technology, fashion and business incubation/training programmes to engage the youth for Tinubu’s presidential aspiration.
Speaking further on the choice of Tinubu for the topmost position in the country, Philips described him as the only Nigerian that exemplifies the kind of democracy the country needed, adding that there must performance based democracy if the citizens must get to the promise land.
“In a country like ours where the people have lost faith in the government, the only way to gain citizens trust back is through results. Politicians are famous for their campaign promises that never become reality. Our people are tired of being deceived by politicians with little or no track record. They want results. And what better way to judge a person’s ability to deliver the results you want, other than previous results achieved.
“Of all the perceived reservations about BAT, his irrefutable results, most notably in Lagos State is never contested. Not only has he laid the master plan on which Lagos has been running successfully for the past 23 years, making it the 5th economy in Africa. He is an excellent leader who also recommends the right people for office,” he said.
Abayomi, who is Director of Media and Publicity of the group, said Nigerian youths can longer sit akimbo and watch helplessly the troubles the country was going through, declaring that Tinubu stood in best position to rescue Nigeria at this time of her history, even as he also noted that the former governor had made major contributions to the development of Lagos State and Nigeria in general.
Also speaking, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora in Romania, Mr. Adeniyi Sanusi, said Tinubu’s contributions to development of Lagos and Nigeria were quite visible, pointing out that Nigerians in Diaspora should consider themselves assets back home as the 2023 General Elections draw nearer.
According to him, Nigerians in Diaspora have powers to get things done through attraction, adding: “We can still add value back to Nigeria and contributing to the development of Nigeria by raising our voice.”
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