Youths Participation in Politics:
Youths Participation in Politics:
The pros and cons. Being a speech delivered by Aare Babajide Oniyo. The National President of Iseyin Youth Development Group, in a Political Orientation Programme held at Aseyin Palace Hall, on the 29th December, 2018.
The Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Dr. Salaudeen Adekunle Oloogunebi, Ajinese 1,
The Chairman of Iseyin Decendant Union(IDU),
The President of Iseyin Council of Societies (ICS).
Our Amiable Lecturers of the day,
The National Coordinator of Alliance of Oke-Ogun Development (AOD)
The Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS)
The Invited Schools present and their teachers,
The Social groups in attendance,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
All Protocols are duly observed.
I found this topic appropriate enough to be my address in tandem with the current happenings in our political space, which has greatly affected our youths’ interpersonal relationship and if not adequately addressed, it is capable of disorganizing the peace of the land and by extension, could affect the National co-existence.
First and foremost, it is very important to give adequate attention to key words in the topic, i.e Youths and Politics.
According to Oxford Dictionary, Youth is defined as the part of life following childhood or the period of existence preceding maturity. In Nigeria context, it is always a period in a human life from 18 to 40 years. While Politics in the other hand according to Collins dictionary is the action or activity concerned with achieving and using power in a country or society. We can also go by the Wikipedia definition which sees politics as the act of achieving and exercising positions of governance - organized control over a human community particularly a state.
Politics is a very good thing, but the way it’s been played and practiced in this part of the world is so barbaric and condemnable. In the advanced world, politics are played such that the dividends of democracy are adequately disseminated and evenly distributed. Such that poor will cease to be poor and rich will also maintain the status quo. Yes! There are poor people in those countries, but the margin between the rich and the poor is not so pronounced. Their poor live comfortable lives, drive good cars and can afford three square meals as contrary to what is applicable here. They enjoy all these because, they did not allow themselves to be used for electioneering misappropriations, ranging from being political thurgery, to involvement in vote buying and selling, to clashing of political parties in the name of politics and to outburst of violence before, during and after elections.
Dear countrymen and women, We all know the simple definition of Democracy as the Government of the people, by the people and for the people. Undoubtedly, a democratic governance provides the human society with the opportunities to ensure human right and freedom in the society, provided the concept and principles of democracy is adhered to, its fruits are indeed acceptable to every right thinking human being in the modern era. However, the abuse of the democracy’s concept, which has become the order of the day among Nigerians especially youths has made it ineffective and detestable.
Ladies and gentlemen, Why do we chose to become sacrificial lambs of desperate politicians? Where do we live another person’s dream at the detriment of our own selves? Why do we become enemies in the name of politics? Why are we killing our future because of today materials? It’s high time we think aright and retrace our steps.
From research, No political violence or misappropriation has ever taken place anywhere in the world without involvement of youths. This appears in form of political Thuggery, Character assassination, buying and selling of votes, which had been seen as criminalization of politics. Though in some cases, political thugs are paid and operate with relatively their consents, many youth are hoodwinked into political violence through the umbrella of ethnic membership, party membership and religious sentiments. By implication, a large chunk of youth involvement in political violence is attributable to ignorance as study have revealed that unemployment, corruption and bad governance also contributed to the youths involvement in political violence, stomach infrastructure and electoral misappropriation.
Fellow compatriots, If we are truly ready to have a better community, it’s imperative we put a stop to electoral misacts. As much as Youths participation in leadership positions is encouraged; It is also important that the politics should be practiced in neutrality of ethnic, religious and party affiliation, and focused towards individual rights to vote and to be voted for. It may also interest us that some numbers of youths became presidents of their various countries before they clocked 40, some of them are:
Emmanuel Macron who became president of France at 39, he was declared president on the 14th May, 2017.
Saleh Ali al-Sammad was 38 when he was declared the president of Yemen on January 1st 1979.
Emil Dimitriev became the president of Macedonia on January 15th 2016 @ 38.
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck became king of Bhutan @ 25years , he was coronated on the December, 2006.
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was 36 when he became the Emir of Qatar on the 25th June, 2013.
Kim Jong Un became the Supreme Leader of North Korea on December 17, 2011 @ 34.
Vanessa D’Ambrosio was 29 on April 2017 when she became the Captain Regeant of San Marino.
If these young chaps can lead their respective countries, what much more our humble selves. We are as good as our actions, and the way we comport ourselves, same way we will be addressed. We cannot continue with stomach infrastructure, follow politicians gullibly, engage in killing, violence and character assassinations and expect to attain this height.
Good governance should be characterized with effectiveness, efficiency, equity, inclusiveness, consensus oriented, responsiveness, transparency and rule of law. Supporting any politician because of money might or other material as the case may be, is tantamount to being a partner to lack of good leadership, accomplice in covering up of corruption, Shielding of Human greed and rationalization for wrong doing, identifying with lack of regard for rule of law, display of love for lack of transparency and accountability, Support of Poor service delivery, being a party to an impoverished citizens, creation of wide gap between rich and the poor, support of unfair allocation and distribution of resources and opportunities.
In the quest for sustainable democratic development, the entire youths are expected to play a significant role in advocating good governance by not selling their votes in exchange for stomach infrastructure; practiced, promoted and celebrated by Nigerian politicians at different levels. It should be noted that Money and food given to you by politicians deny you your right to better medical services, qualitative education, improved security, better roads, and reduction in poverty.
Let me finally leave you with Abraham Lincoln saying who said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves”.
God bless you.
The pros and cons. Being a speech delivered by Aare Babajide Oniyo. The National President of Iseyin Youth Development Group, in a Political Orientation Programme held at Aseyin Palace Hall, on the 29th December, 2018.
The Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba Dr. Salaudeen Adekunle Oloogunebi, Ajinese 1,
The Chairman of Iseyin Decendant Union(IDU),
The President of Iseyin Council of Societies (ICS).
Our Amiable Lecturers of the day,
The National Coordinator of Alliance of Oke-Ogun Development (AOD)
The Federation of Iseyin Local Government Students (FILGS)
The Invited Schools present and their teachers,
The Social groups in attendance,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,
All Protocols are duly observed.
I found this topic appropriate enough to be my address in tandem with the current happenings in our political space, which has greatly affected our youths’ interpersonal relationship and if not adequately addressed, it is capable of disorganizing the peace of the land and by extension, could affect the National co-existence.
First and foremost, it is very important to give adequate attention to key words in the topic, i.e Youths and Politics.
According to Oxford Dictionary, Youth is defined as the part of life following childhood or the period of existence preceding maturity. In Nigeria context, it is always a period in a human life from 18 to 40 years. While Politics in the other hand according to Collins dictionary is the action or activity concerned with achieving and using power in a country or society. We can also go by the Wikipedia definition which sees politics as the act of achieving and exercising positions of governance - organized control over a human community particularly a state.
Politics is a very good thing, but the way it’s been played and practiced in this part of the world is so barbaric and condemnable. In the advanced world, politics are played such that the dividends of democracy are adequately disseminated and evenly distributed. Such that poor will cease to be poor and rich will also maintain the status quo. Yes! There are poor people in those countries, but the margin between the rich and the poor is not so pronounced. Their poor live comfortable lives, drive good cars and can afford three square meals as contrary to what is applicable here. They enjoy all these because, they did not allow themselves to be used for electioneering misappropriations, ranging from being political thurgery, to involvement in vote buying and selling, to clashing of political parties in the name of politics and to outburst of violence before, during and after elections.
Dear countrymen and women, We all know the simple definition of Democracy as the Government of the people, by the people and for the people. Undoubtedly, a democratic governance provides the human society with the opportunities to ensure human right and freedom in the society, provided the concept and principles of democracy is adhered to, its fruits are indeed acceptable to every right thinking human being in the modern era. However, the abuse of the democracy’s concept, which has become the order of the day among Nigerians especially youths has made it ineffective and detestable.
Ladies and gentlemen, Why do we chose to become sacrificial lambs of desperate politicians? Where do we live another person’s dream at the detriment of our own selves? Why do we become enemies in the name of politics? Why are we killing our future because of today materials? It’s high time we think aright and retrace our steps.
From research, No political violence or misappropriation has ever taken place anywhere in the world without involvement of youths. This appears in form of political Thuggery, Character assassination, buying and selling of votes, which had been seen as criminalization of politics. Though in some cases, political thugs are paid and operate with relatively their consents, many youth are hoodwinked into political violence through the umbrella of ethnic membership, party membership and religious sentiments. By implication, a large chunk of youth involvement in political violence is attributable to ignorance as study have revealed that unemployment, corruption and bad governance also contributed to the youths involvement in political violence, stomach infrastructure and electoral misappropriation.
Fellow compatriots, If we are truly ready to have a better community, it’s imperative we put a stop to electoral misacts. As much as Youths participation in leadership positions is encouraged; It is also important that the politics should be practiced in neutrality of ethnic, religious and party affiliation, and focused towards individual rights to vote and to be voted for. It may also interest us that some numbers of youths became presidents of their various countries before they clocked 40, some of them are:
Emmanuel Macron who became president of France at 39, he was declared president on the 14th May, 2017.
Saleh Ali al-Sammad was 38 when he was declared the president of Yemen on January 1st 1979.
Emil Dimitriev became the president of Macedonia on January 15th 2016 @ 38.
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck became king of Bhutan @ 25years , he was coronated on the December, 2006.
Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani was 36 when he became the Emir of Qatar on the 25th June, 2013.
Kim Jong Un became the Supreme Leader of North Korea on December 17, 2011 @ 34.
Vanessa D’Ambrosio was 29 on April 2017 when she became the Captain Regeant of San Marino.
If these young chaps can lead their respective countries, what much more our humble selves. We are as good as our actions, and the way we comport ourselves, same way we will be addressed. We cannot continue with stomach infrastructure, follow politicians gullibly, engage in killing, violence and character assassinations and expect to attain this height.
Good governance should be characterized with effectiveness, efficiency, equity, inclusiveness, consensus oriented, responsiveness, transparency and rule of law. Supporting any politician because of money might or other material as the case may be, is tantamount to being a partner to lack of good leadership, accomplice in covering up of corruption, Shielding of Human greed and rationalization for wrong doing, identifying with lack of regard for rule of law, display of love for lack of transparency and accountability, Support of Poor service delivery, being a party to an impoverished citizens, creation of wide gap between rich and the poor, support of unfair allocation and distribution of resources and opportunities.
In the quest for sustainable democratic development, the entire youths are expected to play a significant role in advocating good governance by not selling their votes in exchange for stomach infrastructure; practiced, promoted and celebrated by Nigerian politicians at different levels. It should be noted that Money and food given to you by politicians deny you your right to better medical services, qualitative education, improved security, better roads, and reduction in poverty.
Let me finally leave you with Abraham Lincoln saying who said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves”.
God bless you.
Comments
Post a Comment