Take control of Nigeria’s governance, SDP challenges youths

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SDP presidential candidate in 2023, Adewole Adebayo

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The Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has urged Nigerian youths to take control of the country’s governance.

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Adebayo made the call when he featured on Newsmen Personality Interview Series on Sunday in Abuja.

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He attributed ​‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠‌‍‌⁠‍‍‍​‍‌​the call to the fact that young Nigerians constitute the country’s largest political and economic forces, stressing that they should play more active roles to fix the nation.

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“I don’t belong to those who want to give hope to youths. I want to tell them: You have to take over the governance of your country to give the nation hope,” he said.

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Adebayo recalled joining SDP at the age of 19, saying young Nigerians did not need wealth or political connections to participate in politics.

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“That the youth constitute the bulk of Nigeria’s security personnel and workforce makes their participation essential to national development.

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“You don’t need anything but your citizenship to participate in politics. You don’t have to have money,” he said.

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Adebayo urged young Nigerians to move beyond supporting politicians on social media and become active participants in political structures.

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He said that youths must participate in elections, scrutinise candidates and hold elected officials accountable.

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According to him, majority of Nigerian voters are young people, giving them significant power to determine electoral outcomes.

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“I am not selling hope to you (youths). I am selling involvement to you. I am selling responsibility to you. I am selling duty to you.

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“Whoever the youth vote for will win, because the majority of the voters are youths,” he said.

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The presidential candidate urged youths to rally around political programmes that present viable solutions to the country rather than personalities, saying governance must be driven by competence and responsibility.

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He challenged Nigerian youths to take ownership of the political process, ahead of the 2027 elections.

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“It is for the youth to rally around what we are doing and to enhance their own role beyond supporters’ club.

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“Come and take over; take control of our politics. You can join today and that is a better way to transform our democracy,” he said.

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