Lagos LG poll: Ikorodu APC youths demand inclusiveness in governance

Etim Effiong

Some youth groups in Ikorodu have urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to involve young people in governance, especially as the local government election in Lagos State is fast approaching.

Concerned Ikorodu Division Youths (CIDY) stated this together with the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) after a strategic meeting on Tuesday in Ikorodu.

CIDY Coordinator, Samson Basiru, told newsmen after the meeting that it was time the APC gave more slots to young people to enable them grow in politics of the state and the nation in general.

According to him, the youths had been unknowingly marginalised owing to paucity of funds that would have enabled them to compete with others for elective positions.

He said: “The party should give specific slots to youths across the state and ensure that payment for nomination forms is made affordable for them.

“The guidelines for election give consideration for the youths, so we are calling on them to fully participate in the coming local government election.”

Speaking also, the APC aspirant contesting for chairmanship position in Ikorodu North LCDA, Mr Adedoyin Ogunbiyi, noted that Ikorodu youths were ready to join politics to change the narrative of community development.

Ogunbiyi said that the political class had been recycling the same sets of people with no tangible result.

The aspirant asked the APC leadership to embrace a level playing field during the primary election to ensure emergence of candidates acceptable by the community.

“We are calling on the party leadership to allow all candidates to showcase themselves and see how much they are accepted by their communities.

“Youths are the bedrock of development of any country because they constitute a larger percentage of the population.

“It is imperative for every country to understand that the youths have an important role to play when it comes to development.

“So, we are charging them to join politics to change the narrative,” he said.

Jimoh Azeez, who is also contesting for Ikorodu Local Government chairmanship under the APC, urged youths to join politics to reposition the political landscape of the state.

Azeez also urged those in government to embrace 21st century corporate governance that had a modern way of generating revenue through technology.

He added: “Politician need to build a purposeful society that can better the lives of residents.

“They need to embrace technology, a scientific way of operating like corporate governance, and a modern way of generating internal revenue.”

Former clerk, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Ganiu Abiru, urged residents and political leaders to support and encourage the youths in politics.

Abiru also advised party members to come out en masse to vote for their candidates during the primary election.