A conglomerate of the Nigerian youths under the auspices of the Youth Awake Now (YAN) has charged the Nigerian youths to take their destinies in their hands in the coming elections, especially the presidential election come February 25, 2023.
YAN, drawn from youth leaders from Arewa Consultative Forum, Afenifere, Ohanaeze-Ndigbo, Ijaw Youth Leaders, National Association of Nigerian Students among others such as: NAP, NYC, NYP, etc, has called on the Nigerian youths across the country to make the right choice of the presidential candidate in the coming election.
In a statement signed by the YAN Spokesman Barrister Pereotubo Roland Oweilaemi, on behalf of the group’s Executive Chairman, Dr. Festus Ochenna, it appealed to the youths who it noted constitute about 50% of the voting population, to critically assess the candidates vying to rule the country before casting their votes.
Party of the statement reads: “As Nigerians are facing the worst political attrition ever experienced since independent, the general elections coming up this month have presented a glaring opportunity for the teaming youths of the country to right the wrongs Nigerians have committed in the past.
“Just as the Nigerian youths constitute the majority of the voting population in the country, we are at the receiving end of mis-governance by successive leaders in position of authority.
“They said evil prevails when good men say nothing. The youths must come out in our larger voting populace to effect a regime change that will be beneficial to the entire nation.”
“Like the saying that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow, this election is our chance for us to prepare the ground for our tomorrow leadership.
“There may be no country for us to take the mantle of leadership in our time if we allow the privileged few to continue to plunder the land and or ruin the future of Nigeria.
“The 2023 presidential election should be a political battle of the ballots between the Nigerian youths and the bad leaders in the country.
“The youth should rise to the occasion to exercise our sovereign power provided in the Nigerian Constitution. The battle is not going to be fought by the bullets but by our voter cards.
“YAN therefore appeals to every youth who registered to vote to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) at the appointed time. Our powers lie in the PVCs.
“On our part, YAN is making frantic efforts to screen the leading presidential candidates in order to adopt one of them who will fit in the wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people, especially the low income earners.
“YAN will present a charter of demand to our preferred candidate to strike a social contract with the person.
“2023 will not be business as usual. Nigerian youths have resolved to exercise our franchise without let or hindrance to enthrone a pan Nigerian agenda. Enough is enough.”