Oluwo Charges Nigerian Youths To Participate Actively In Politics, Governance

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Olawale Akanbi, has called on the Nigerian youths to take their destiny into their hands by participating more actively in politics and governance.

Oluwo Of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi

Oba Akanbi made the call while delivering a lecture on Thursday, at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in Ede, Osun, where he spoke on the topic “culture” as part of the corps three weeks orientation activities.

The paramount traditional ruler charged the graduate youths in camp to eschew anything capable of creating fear in their minds, hence chasing them away from participating in politics.

He said lack of equal access to opportunities and frustration with bad governance had conspired against the emergence of qualified and competent Nigerian youths in politics and governance.

He said it was not enough for the youth to always complain about bad leaders, that they needed to break the status quo by taking the chance to be elected and create the transformation they needed for a change.

“The Nigeria youth have a challenge in their hands for the future of our country; this is the time for them to rise up. They should not sit down and fold their hands and be lamenting over bad leadership or politicians.

“I want to appeal to Nigerian youths to summon courage and not be scared. Change is something we must all yearn for. And let me tell you, as a youth, you need to be creative.

“Bring new innovations, don’t remain stagnant. If you want to remain in the darkness, continue with the status quo , but if you don’t want to continue, then, you have to change the status quo.

“Unarguably, there are problems in Nigeria: the leadership specifically. Disappointedly, the youth are doing follow-follow at the detriment of their future, exercising phobia to approach and break out of the box.

“You have to be bold to liberate yourself. You can’t make an omelette without breaking the shell. Your number one sacrifice is to summon courage and boldness.

“As a youth, start thinking by yourself on what you can do for the society, not what the society will do for you. You cannot jump to the top without climbing the ladder. You have to start something. “Oba Akanbi charged them

He urged the youth to work hard towards becoming self-reliant, insisting key to success is adding value to one’s life through development of gift and skills.

While charging the Corps members to see themselves as children of the soil, Oluwo assured them of safety in the various local government areas that they would be posted to in the state, saying Osun is a peaceful state to live in.

Speaking, the Head of Lecture, Bona Fasakin, appreciated the revered monarch for impacting on the Corps members the knowledge that would help to make their service year easier and better.

Fasakin who described Oluwo as a traditional ruler who doesn’t believe in antics said what the First Class Oba taught the Corps members was contemporary and germane, saying he had encouraged and enlightened them about life.

Describing the lecture as an interesting and help-noticing, a Corps member, Boniface Sunday, said the monarch has taught them the need for them to be courageous, creative and submissive.

The Taraba born Corps member said he has been able to tap from the knowledge of the monarch, how to identify a problem and raise solution to it, adding that he can now live and relate with other people from other tribes without offending each other.