By Babajimi Benson, the lawmaker representing Ikorodu Federal Consitituency in the House of Representatives, has called on young people to pay more attention to politics and become the change they desire in governance.
Benson, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Defense, made this known in a statement on Thursday.
According to him, the ongoing membership registration and revalidation exercise of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which commenced on February 9, offers young people and progressive-minded citizens the opportunity to get involved in the structure of Nigeria’s political system.
“Our young people, particularly the #SoroSokeGeneration must understand that the purpose and drive of a people-oriented democracy is to create a political system that allows people to participate competitively.
“The youth also need to acknowledge that the primary agenda of a political party is to control the seat of power both politically and economically, which is actualised through the selection of candidates and campaigning for such candidates to project and protect the ethos of its ideology, for the change that we seek,” he stated.
The lawmaker said since, there is currently no constitutional provision for independent candidacy, interested candidates for public offices must belong to a political party, adding that political parties give candidates the platform and structure to connect with the people.
He said: “In every democracy, the people who control the political party will determine those to be put forward to represent the people, after all, every leader is a reflection of its people, hence the significant importance of a political party in the area of governance.
“As I have often highlighted in the past, the people outside of power are more powerful than the people in power because every ounce of power weighed by those in power is handed over to them by those outside of power. The strength of the people to demonstrate the powerlessness of any government or those in power lie in the mobilisation and participation, which starts by identifying with a structured political party.
Benson stated he believed the young demography, despite constituting over 45 percent of the total population, lacks sufficient representation in party membership, leadership, and legislatures.
“To change this narrative, the youths must have a sense of duty to participate in the process of party registration, aligning their strength within the progressive fold of the APC, necessary to make a decisive impact in the representation of our dear country.
“It is time to get involved and young people must pay attention to Party Registration – be the change you want to see in governance.
“Let’s get involved to participate in the decision-making process. Let’s join the progressives’ party, let’s join APC,” he concluded.
