NIGERIAN YOUTHS MUST TAKE CHARGE OF GOVERNANCE

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By: Fasasi Hammad

Social Democratic Party presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has urged Nigerian youths to take a more active role in the governance of the country.

Adebayo made the call on Sunday while featuring on the Newsmen Personality Interview Series in Abuja.

He said young Nigerians constitute a significant proportion of the country’s workforce, security personnel and electorate, making their active participation in politics crucial to national development.

“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.

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

According to him, citizenship is enough to qualify Nigerians to take part in the political process.

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

The SDP candidate urged youths to move beyond supporting politicians on social media and become active participants in political structures.

He advised them to participate in elections, scrutinise candidates and hold elected officials accountable.

Adebayo noted that young people make up the majority of Nigeria’s voting population, giving them considerable influence over electoral outcomes.

“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,” he said.

He urged youths to support political programmes that offer practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges rather than focusing solely on individual politicians.

Adebayo also challenged young Nigerians to take ownership of the political process ahead of the 2027 elections and become more actively involved in shaping the country’s democracy.

“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.