Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo, the Cross River Southern Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party while addressing the youths at the 1st Political/Security Summit, organized by _National Youth Council Of Nigeria, Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State on the theme, "Unlocking The Power Of Youths: Inclusion and Active Participation in Politics" stated that young people must be engaged in the formal discourse of our political processes and have a say in formulating today's and tomorrow's politics.
According to him, inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but is also crucial to building stable and peaceful societies and developing policies that respond to the specific needs of younger generations. For political systems to be representative, all parts of society must be included. When young people are disenfranchised or disengaged from political processes, a significant portion of the population has little or no voice to influence decisions that affect group members' lives. A key consequence is the undermining of political systems' representation.
Elections in Nigeria have almost always been characterized by allegations of rigging, vote-buying, and ballot box snatching amongst a myriad of issues that have bedeviled the electioneering process since the return to civilian rule in 1999. And this process is always carried out by the youths. We have succeeded in changing the system for good, the adoption of electronic transmission of results has the potential to drastically limit the prospect of electoral violence because as long as the polling centers are well secured, political thugs will have little or no influence over proceedings as the results could be transmitted within minutes or seconds to the collation Centre.
Our electioneering processes have been too porous and it was easy to be manipulated, and our elders and elites had looked down and made sure that the youths stayed down there to serve their purpose, and that was why the youths were used in the way they were used. Well, as they say, the boys have become men and so the men who are coming of age have also known that the vices they have been involved in were not such that will bring development to them as a people, and so there is this change of orientation.
What are the gains of being used against a system that you will eventually be a beneficiary of? I believe that violence in itself and criminality in an election have also been reduced because of the innovations in technology that is being introduced into our electoral system. What we saw in the last election conducted by BVAS is that it has drastically reduced the influence of thugs, and weapons at polling units. History will remember me as one of those who painstakingly contributed in reviewing the electoral act as amended that specifies that votes at a polling units stand canceled once violence is perceived at the said polling unit. This is only possible because of BVAS. The power of the youth is in the technology they have been exposed to and the BVAS is not also different.
This brings me to the influence of the power of the youth. As a legislator, I believe these elections will prove to the ruling class that indeed power belongs to the youth and I am confident that you will protect your votes and prove to those who think that the youths don't matter, that they truly matter. One of the good things the BVAS has done is to give power to the voter thereby making the guns, the machete, and ballot snatching old-fashioned.
I, therefore encourage the youths to join the Labour Party as it is the only party that will guarantee you a place in the future as those who have been there since 1960 must understand that now is the time for the youths or never.
Labour Party is set to create an enabling ground for Youths' involvement in politics and decision-making. Youths as agents of change have never before had so many young people involved in movements for change worldwide. They are taking to the streets and using online social networks and communities to connect, express their voices, and campaign for change. They are protesting against authoritarian regimes, corruption, inequalities, and insecurities. They are fighting for sustainable development and a better future for current and new generations. Let's keep the dream alive and say no to election malpractice and vote buying and selling. Let's unite together for a common purpose and take back our country.
Regrettably, when the statistics of the poorest people in the country are taken, the youths always make up the largest number. These ended up being used as tools in the hands of the privileged few.
To the youths of Cross River State Southern Senatorial District, it will interest you to know that the foundation I am driving on was built in my youthful state. I became Chairman of Akamkpa LGA years back because I strongly believe that power is taken and not given, I created an impact that has sustained me to date. Let's come together and decide the fate of our Senatorial District come the 2023 general election. Raise the youths of Cross River State and together we shall change the narrative while sustaining the dividends of democracy. It's either now or never.
I therefore encourage you as young people to be your brothers' keepers, speak against violence campaigns, against vote buying and take the golden opportunity to take back your country. God bless you!
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