Osun 2022: US Urges Youths To Move Political Participation From Social To Grassroots

By Nafisat Arogundade, Osogbo

Ahead of July 16 gubernatorial poll in Osun State, women and youths have been advised to participate and get involved in the political decision-making process to govern at all levels.

The call was made during a Town Hall Meeting in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Tuesday themed “Increasing Women and Youth Participation In Politics and Electoral Processes”.

The program was initiated by The United States Government Exchange Alumni Association, Osun State Chapter with the support of the U.S. Consulate General, Lagos.

The meeting witnessed panelists who discussed way forward in sensitizing youths and women to be more involved in politics and the electoral processes.

Members of the panel include; governorship aspirants under the platform of Youth progressive party, Dr. Ademola Bayonle, Zenith Labour Party, Adesuyi John Olufemi, member of House of Assembly, Obokun local government Hon. Adeyemi Irekandu, INEC desk officer on Gender, Barrister Abimbola Babatunde among others.

The discussant roll out some way out on how to help and get women and youths involved more involved in politics.

Speaking at the event, Femi Adefila, the Chief Executive Officer, Rave FM 91.7, said women and youth who constitute 101 million and 33.3 million of Nigeria’s population should be encouraged to participate in politics.

“We want to sensitize them, to galvanize their interests and their consciousness that it is a civic responsibility that we should take very seriously. Do you imagine 101 million women and 33.3 million being passive and not active in politics?

“We told them there are no polling units on the social media, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, you need to be active. You need to leave the comfort of your home, go to the polling units and perform your Civic responsibility. That is the only strategy for you to use to elect your leaders. Enough of complaining and enough of gang-standing; it is time for active participation.

This period, according to Adefila, is the most auspicious time for youthful participation, especially as Osun gubernatorial election draws nearer.

According to him “In a few days we are having Osun state election and next year we are having a Presidential election, how do we chip in an active participant and inclusive democracy

“In Nigeria, we have 101.67 million women and 33.6 million youth, and through democracy, they are not active in politics as they should be in our democracy and democratic process in the essence of it how do we encourage women, and more youth to participate actively in the electoral process to sensitize to make the electoral process very seriously.

“You have to leave your home go to the polling unit and perform your civic right that is the only strategy for you to elect the leader of your choice, enough of complaining, it’s time for acting participation in the election processes so that the leader of your choice can be selected by you.

“This is the most suspicious time to raise this kind of narrative to the consciousness of the people, this is the time to take it to the people that it’s important that they take their civic responsibility seriously, and it’s acceptable for you to complain thereafter if you fail to participate in this process now because you are giving a great opportunity to elect a leader of your choice and do not sell your vote.

“Women have not been participating and they should be, we need to let them realize that they should step up and participate in politics, it’s not about agitating it’s about negotiation and active practice in politics, he added.

One of the participants, Elizabeth Omojoyegbe said that there should be a platform to sensitize youth and to be oriented about electoral processes adding that the youth are ready.

“They want us to participate but there is no platform for it to sensitize the people, we are ready to participate but there should be a platform for it and there should empowerment from different organizations”.

In his own contribution, Honourable Irekandu “Social media is a vital tool and legitimate place yet it has not directly changed the cause of an election the youth need to log out of social media and log in at the polling boat if they won’t truly be involved in politics.

Also Ademola said that “Dancing behind main politicians is not enough as participation in politics, women should decide to get involved in the decision-making process.

“Politics is a dirty game is a fallacious statement crafted by the political stylus to scare the peace coming citizens away from the pot of soup which they erroneously take politics for

Another discussant Alahaja Aminat said that “It’s not negotiable that at least three ministries must be headed by women, which are the ministry of education, the ministry of finance, and the ministry of health.

“There should be leveraged on the activities of the Nigeria women trust fund to escape financial and gender discrimination.

Abosede also said that “Religion organizations should help encourage women to lead in society, women should join political parties and play leading roles in those political parties

“Vote-buying should be blamed on both the buyer and the seller while government should make life easier, people should know that they will bear the brunt of bad governance as given by who they vote for.

“The assures solution to the problem of low participation and youth is massive orientation.