By Sodiq Yusuf
TO boost the chances of Nigeria’s rapid socio-economic development, the nation’s political parties must give a strong backing to qualified youths to take up the gauntlet of governance.
This, according to a young politician, Kabir Aregbesola, will aid the long-term survival of the country’s progressive legacy being built by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Aregbesola stated this on Monday in Abuja, in his speech titled “Shall We Rise?”, delivered at the maiden Progressives’ Youth Conference.
The son of the Minister of Interior held that to guarantee the longevity of the mass prosperity efforts of the APC-led government beyond 2023; the youths must be remarkably incorporated into governance, with a call on every Nigerian to jettison self-centeredness.
He said: “For us to deliver mass prosperity and a stable social, economic and political future, we must see beyond 2023. We must rise beyond our selfish interests to a bigger and bolder vision for our children, your grandchildren.
“We must rise beyond the divisions of self- interest, ethnicity and religion and such other narrow self-serving considerations to solve the bigger problem, POVERTY.
“Poverty of the mind and of the pocket is ravaging the social fabric of our Nation on all fronts; productivity, values and security. Poverty knows no tribe or religion. We must rise beyond our divisions to deliver functional education for all, affordable healthcare for all, safe and secure homeland and many more progressive solutions through this bold progressive and political platform, the All Progressives Congress; for our Nation.
“To deliver this legacy of progressive and inclusive development the Nation needs, change must start from within. Our great party, zwhich produces the current President and must produce the next one, must be led by the boldest of progressive values that see beyond just 2023.”
He added: “Nigeria is a young country, with 50% of our population aged between 30 and 45 years. To achieve our goals of delivering a long-term progressive legacy, sustaining North-South progressive alignment and produce the next President for our Nation, our great party, must rejig its relationship with the most energetic constituency of our Nation; the youth.
“What we do on this matter and when we do it, will shape politics of our country for years to come. The APC must rally leadership and leverage the energy of the younger generation to be the Model Political Party for our country and deliver Nigeria as the model of development for Africa.
“The APC must re-energize the younger generation in a transformational way to secure the party’s future and the country’s progressive legacy. The time has come to leverage the younger generation as the engine room for participation, growth and opportunities for our long term-survival.
“Our President must end well. We must sustain North–South progressive alliance. This is the time for our great party to mainstream the younger generation into politics and governance for our long-term survival.”
