The All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Lobby Group has declared its intention to drive political governance actively come 2023.
The chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Mr Oden Ewa, stated that the plans to host a summit for over 50 thousand youths in Calabar, the capital of the Cross River State, south-south Nigeria, were at advanced stages.
Motivate and illuminate
Speaking to newsmen in Calabar, Ewa asserted that the youths were prepared to tap into the elders’ experiences to drive the political process.
According to him, “we don’t intend to kick out elderly politicians. We need their wealth of experience to succeed as young people in elective offices. We need them as they need us because we are young and vibrant.
“Our aim with the summit, a gathering of thousands of young people, is to spur, motivate and illuminate their minds. It will be like a festival where notable public speakers speak and motivate the youths to better their lives.
“It is an opportunity for men and women, who have made giant strides in business and politics to come and speak about the good works of Governor Ben Ayade. We would be inspiring ourselves. We are expecting three to fifty thousand people from far and near for the youth summit,” Ewa said.
Some members of the LOC gave brief details on the arrangements and the significance of holding the summit in Calabar on the socio-economy of the people.
One of such is the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, who commended Governor Ayade for allowing women and youths to serve.
Ekpenyong noted that the summit would be the largest gathering of youths and women and “an opportunity to announce Governor Ayade as the greatest supporter of women and youths in politics. I also use this medium to invite young people irrespective of political affiliations to take part in this all-important summit.”
Brains and skills
Explaining further, another member of the LOC, Mr David Bassey, said, “We need to learn to respect people, respect ourselves. It is not about violence, it is not about shouting to be given a chance, and it is not about taking over.
” It is about letting the elders know we respect them, we love them, and we see their exemplary leadership, which they operate and that we are ready to follow suit. We are only asking for a seat at the table.”
“We do not want to be used for thuggery, for election vandalization or snatching of the ballot. We do not want to be used for that anymore. We have the skillset, and we have come of age. We need to let them know we are different; we have got class, we have got the brains and the energy.
“We need to present ourselves in a different light, so they see that we are prepared to lead. For me, we still need these elders as they are the wise ones; they are experienced. Most of the experience they have, we (youths) have read in books,” he stressed.
The Local Organizing Committee said the APC Youth Summit would hold at the U. J. Esuene Stadium on February 19, 2022.
Editor/Suzan O.
