By Caleb ijioma
The Youth Engagement and Inclusion Agenda Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Lagos State has called for more youths participation in political activities ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The committee during its inaugural meeting held at the office of Idris Aregbe, the Lagos APC Youth Secretary, discussed its plans and future with regards to making youths core participants in the country’s political activities.
The committee was set up recently by the APC Youth Secretary and it has 19 members cutting including the senior special adviser on youths development to the Lagos state Governor, Akanbi Saheed.
Idris Aregbe, who was the convener of the committee said the committee was set up to salvage the present state of the country.
He emphasized on the importance of youths inclusion and engagement now and during the 2023 general elections.
“It is about saving the lives of generations. When we look at security, we think we are okay, more reason why we have to channel our energy as youths into growing the country. It is about numbers, we have the numbers, if we use our numbers well, we will achieve our goals,” Aregbe said.
“Youths need to be more involved in political activities. This is a solution to the various challenges that have befallen the country. We must ensure that we sensitize the youths to be actively involved in the decision making of the country and this can only be achieved through political participation.”
Joseph Odesanya, a member of the committee said youths have been relegated to the background in the affairs of the country.
“There’s a collapse of the value system, the youths have been relegated to the background. The leadership has failed, if you want to change the narrative, it’s a big task but not insurmountable,” Odesanya said.
“Within the system, there’s a uniqueness in Lagos State, one man has created an ideology that has included the youths and this idea does not exist at the upper level. If we intend to push the truth, there must be commonness. We must be able to negotiate with our strength, our numbers.”
Funso Rasheed, another member of the committee, called for negotiation between the youths and the present leaders of the country, stressing the need for youths to be included in the decision making of the country.
“This committee is not set up to push the ideology that an older generation shouldn’t be president. We need to negotiate with them so that everybody can be included in governance. The youths need to be included in the decision making of the country because we have potentials,” Rasheed said.
The committee members enjoined youths to register for their voters card and participate actively in political activities in their respective environments.