President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, urged Nigerian youths to be willing to do something different if they want to see something different urging them to join political parties to achieve that change they want.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke during a virtual meeting he had with youths of the ruling All Progressives Congress from the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The statement was titled ‘President Buhari urges youths to participate in politics, shares APC vision.’
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Adesina quoted the President as telling the youth to closely monitor the processes that lead to the emergence of leaders in the political party, and also pick more interest in taking up leadership roles.
The President said, ‘Tell your colleagues to go back to their constituencies and join in party registration, attend party meetings, pay your dues, make contributions and bring your youthful energy and zeal to bear on the development of the party right from the unit and ward level up to the national.
‘If you want to see something different, you have to be willing to do something different.’
Buhari said the future of the APC lied in strengthened internal democracy, with transparent electoral processes, pro-people policies and programmes, and the value of each member’s contribution to the party’s growth.
He noted that the party’s ongoing registration and revalidation across the country will further ensure a shared vision for the APC, grassroots ownership and participation, and inclusiveness for youths.
He added, ‘‘I was in Daura to revalidate my membership and I encourage you all to do same. My belief and firm commitment are that politics is a game of numbers, and political power truly belongs to the people. Parties are built from the ground up.
‘So I envisage a party that we can have transparent electoral contests, drive policies and programmes that are pro-people, and most importantly, have the members determine who represents them, not some leaders somewhere.’
Buhari assured the youth of more party and government policies that will accommodate their interests, with a committee on the way, largely of the young, that will specifically take into cognizance and work for the interest of youths.
‘Young people owe this country the responsibility to deploy their energy and creativity in every field — health, science, education, sports, agriculture, etc. — and bring up innovations that would be in tandem with the changing dynamics of the world.
‘While I will be looking forward to a more robust engagement with young people across the country, I wish to emphasize to you all that in me, you have a major supporter. I will offer you my full support to grow in politics, public service, entertainment, entrepreneurship, and many other sectors because I know that the future we envisage as a country cannot happen without our youths.
‘In the days ahead, I will be engaging with the Minister for Youth, National Youth Leader of the party, and others to fine-tune continuous and deliberate strategy on how to better drive a more robust youth inclusion and participation in different sectors,’ he added.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK