Eminent personalities, youths and other stakeholders have canvassed for more youthful involvement in politics, adding that the desired future is attainable when they take active part in the polity of the nation.
This forms the thrust of the fourth edition of Bola Tinubu Youth Summit, theme “ Reinventing Our Future: Roles of young Nigerians in National Development”, held on Saturday at the Muson Centres Onikan Lagos.
The Guest Speaker Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru who represents Osun Central Senatorial District harps on the need for youths to take decisive action in political movements, as their participation gives them what to leverage on, citing Asiwaju as a dogged model whose live can serve as a guide to all youths.
According to Bashiru who is a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Osun State, no amount of help can come the way of the youths in politics if they stay parochial and unconcerned about their electoral power as enshrined in the constitution.
He tasked the youths to get up and be counted in the scheme of things.
Akanbi Saheed Afonja the Senior Special Assistant to Governor of Lagos State on Youth and Development and the Convener of Bola Tinubu Youth Summit, was quick to add that with concerted engagement of the youths by government the society will be rid off restiveness and all kinds of social vices.
“Election is coming we need to go out and collect our PVC, it also high time to speak with one voice as a youth, we have to come together and look inward for who is capable, who has the capacity to transform this nation. In essence all we need now is to unite.
“To tackle insecurity ravaging the land we need to engage the youths more, in terms of sports, educational development.
“So we need proper youth engagement from our government this will take them off social vices.
“ I pray that God empower Asiwaju more in all ramifications to be able to ensure his dreams come through for him to be our next President in Nigeria.
Commenting on the importance of youthful involvement in the nations politics the, Managing Director LAGSFERRY Hon. Abdulbaqui Ladi Balogun, notes that much could be achieved when the youths team up and assert their relevance in the polity.
“We need to engage more in what concerns us, it is the time for everybody to be deciding for people behind them is gone so this is the time for us to take active participation.
“The youths are the future and the future starts now, so wherever decision is being taken we need to be involved, that is the essence of all everybody have been talking about.
“Bola Tinubu Youth SUMMIT has come to stay because it is addressing contemporary issues in Nigeria and particularly from the youths perspective.
“It is another way to take the discourse further to tell us that for Nigeria to get it right, the youths must take their rightful place in the scheme of things.
“The youth has 65 per cent demography in the nation, so they need to be factored in when designing policies, when implementing and executing agenda they need be considered.
“Given the fact that they take a larger chunk of our population they need be carried along, educationally,socially, economically and more.
“I am a youth I am getting involved in politics so I charge all youths to follow that path, we should not mind whatever comes our way in the negative,we should rather look at how we can turn it around to make it positive.
“It won’t come easy but you need struggle for it as advocated by Asiwaju. The struggle to rescue and salvage this country is our responsibility”. Balogun said.
An House of Reps aspirant in Badagry. Mobolaji Ogunlende while speaking with newsmen noted that much could be achieved when the youths are united on a goal.
“Unity is needed to move Nigeria forward. Youths participation,involvement and engagement in all that is happening in the nation today is key.
“Power is not served on platter of gold but it is a buffet so we need to team up and advance the youths course for the future we so much desired.
Making their individual contributions during discourse session, successful youths who are making wave in their different callings urge the Nigerian youths to leave the back seat and support each other, by speaking in one voice for the youths to be carried along in the scheme of things.
Dr. Azeezat Yishawu one of the discussants was quick to point out the strength in diversity and how every youths across the divide possess a goal getting spirit with which they can attain any height they are gunning for but need to come together to reinvent the future they desired.
“ As youths you need to understand the foundations of the principle you are aligning with before forging ahead.
For Asiwaju unity is key and he rewards loyalty and just to all.
“The issue we have is that we are unable to follow Asiwaju’s principles, his ability to accomodate people of talent and reward all loyal to him, makes them do more.
“ What I fear alot,there is a lot that we are lacking. Kidnappings,killings really debaring progress, we need get it right. We need to support one another all divides must fuse together.
Another panelist Maryam Laushi part of the ‘Not To Young To Run’ movement, talked about need for political consciousness ensuring youths exercise their franchise. As all wants a functional Nigeria.
“The issue for us is how do we collaborate across different geo political zones to forge the future we want.
“To me Asiwaju is an icon of progress, he offered a kind of governance never seen in Nigeria before.
“Whatever happens we have the end result to bear. What we do now will impact Nigeria. Youth are actually the treasure and everything we do will impact our future.”
Leo Da Silva also a discussant harps on political apathy as the major problem, he noted that what need be done is affording the youths quality education on the importance of been politically involved.
“It should not be a thing of chance but being on ground that is important.
For me Asiwaju is a king maker, who never made a useless king. As one of the kings he made saved my life academically in 2013.
“We need go back to the drawing board. So as to make quality education free to all, as afforded in the UBE act we need that to make of them opportunity creators. He said.
The Ondo State Governor’s son Babajide Akeredolu was also on hand to lend his voice as one of the panelist, citing the perception of the public about children of political figures like him.
He maintained that the youth need grow capacity to be counted when situation demands or opportunities arises.
“Perceptions are difficult to change and you can’t change anything you are not inside. Youth involvement is key.
“Asiwaju’s uniqueness is affirmed in his being relevant even while no longer in government. His doggedness is needed to effect the desired change.
“He is greatness personified, his selfless attitude, speak volume. As advanced by a northern state governor,politics comes first, it determines everything.
Patriotic partisanship, involve getting more people to add value.”
The new National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress Mr. Dayo Israel who was there to grace the occasion, declared that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has a youthful heart and that when he becomes Nigerian President youthful involvement is certain given his antecedents.
“Asiwaju is one of the kind only seen in one generation. Asiwaju is our own model,Jagaban of our time because he has traversed generations.
“He redeemed his time through building leaders. He is a dream maker. He is not looking for money, power or influence but legacy to leave behind for generations yet unborn”
According to Segun Dada one of the close contenders for the APC National Youth Leader position, all hands need be on deck to ensure the eventual emergence of Tinubu. By actively taking about the message across all geo political zones.
Chief Kemi Nelson and Mr Okeowo Olasubomi also corroborated the charge for youths to be involved in partisan politics.
Sharing his perception about who his father really is Seyi Tinubu notes that,“I don’t think Nigeria has ever had his kind of mentality and ability to push for something and get it done, I charge all to vote Asiwaju.
Also present at the epoch making event are State Youth Leaders across Southwest, Dr. Seriki. Youth Leader Lagos, Idris Aregbe Organizing Secretary APC, and Moremi Ojudu who anchored the discursive session.