The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, urged Nigerian youths to be willing to do something different if they want to see something different.
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.”
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 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 specially 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.
The President urged youths to join the APC while thanking many who stood by the party over the years.
‘‘I have followed with keen interest the efforts of many of you in your bid to grow our party, the APC, into a strong and long-lasting platform that would sustain progressive governance in Nigeria. Taking issues concerning our party seriously is commendable and shows your forward-thinking.
‘‘I am also aware of the daily toils and sacrifices many of our online warriors make on social media to defend and promote the party and government. I appreciate you deeply and I am committed to making sure everyone appreciates your work as well,” he said.
In his remarks, the National Youth Representative, APC Caretaker Committee, Ismaeel Ahmed, appreciated the President for always giving quick response to issues that affect young people in the country, which include the N-Power project, with N75bn youth fund, and various interventions that stimulate entrepreneurship, especially to cushion the effects of COVID-19.
Ahmed, who is also the Senior Special Assistant on National Social Investment Programme to the President, appealed to the President to ensure more youth inclusion in all committees of the Federal Government since young people constitute more than 60 per cent of the population and creation of a Youth Commission.
PUNCH