By: Joseph A. Adudu, April 02, 2022

Nigeria youths have been urged to developed a sense of direction and purpose and be focused in order to change the political narratives for the good and betterment of the country.This is the submission of almost all participants during a dialogue organized by Bege Foundation, a monthly Youth discourse, tagged "Gaskiya Platform", under the topic, "Safer and Peaceful Communities: Youth Actions in Ensuring a Peaceful, Credible, Transparent and Inclusive 2023 General Elections held at Augustinian Vacational Training Centre within the premises of St. Monica's Catholic Church, State Low-Cost Jos on Thursday.

Gideon Okoko, Technical Director, Bege Foundation

A Public Affairs Analyst and Media Practitioner, Ambassador Bello Lukman in his Keynote address decried the way and manner the youths have been reduced to just acts of criminality during elections noting that the essence of the gathering was to ensured that the narrative was changed. He further said that despite the expensive nature that characterized the electoral processes, he believed the youths have actually not made good use of their numerical strength to change the narrative. Lukman held strongly that if the system must be changed, then there was the need to change the established political culture and socialization as well as the established political psychology of the nation where it is believed that you must have money before you even make attempt to contest any elective position. "We have about 22 million students in higher Institutions across Nigeria who are youths.

Amb. Bello Lukman, Keynote Speaker

"In the 2015 general elections, the President won with 15million votes. In 2019, the President won with the same margin.

"Now, imagine the 22million students coming together in consensus agreement irrespective of tribe, ethnic or religion affiliations, insisting that they want to change the narrative".

He further noted that the major impediment towards changing the narrative was sentiment. Consequently, Lukman strongly advised the youths to banished all forms of sentiments (ethnic and religious) usually introduced by politicians just for the purpose of winning elections. In terms of action and equally the way forward, he urged the youths to take three steps. The first, to ensure they have PVCs. The second, to collectively join a political party of like-minded people and the third, to engaged in aggressive sensitization and awareness in order to sell their agenda.

Panelists: From right, Dr. Charles Dickson, Hajiya Fatima Suleimain, Victor Nsunwara

During plenary, the panelists held that the only way forward for the youths of this country was for them to have a vision and be focused. Victor Nsunwara, representative of women for women international said it was for the youths to decide if they were okay with the system or not, noting that their decision in either direction, would actually formed the basis of their action. He said the youths had a significant role to play in the political processes but explained that, this can only come to fruition when they make the most of themselves. Nsunwara added that for active participation in the processes, the youths must have a sense of direction and deeper understanding of their role so as to be resolute and impact positively in the Nigerian project. Also speaking, Fatima Suleimain, Plateau State Coordinator, Women Peace Network said the youths can make impact in the processes only when they have a purpose. She also advised on the formation of consortiums and effective utilisation of the new media to engage the politicians to bring solutions on key sectors of the society just as it happened in Ghana during their last general elections.

Suleimain said the youths should engaged government Institutions and Non-governmental organizations to help build their capacities. "Here on the Plateau, we have a lot of government Institutions, engage them.

"We also have a lot of activists and NGOs on the Plateau, engage them so they can help you build your capacity on policy engagement to be able to be part of the electoral processes". She advised the youths against submitting themselves to be used negatively by some politicians. "Say no to drugs, say no to all forms of sentiments, you should have a vision and stay focused so as to build a better future", she said.

In his submission, Dr. Charles Dickson, a development worker, posited that the incumbrance towards political participation for young people was not money but how to raise it. "If you have 22million young people at N1,000, that's N2billion. Every youth seated here averages N2,000 per month on Data. So, the problem is not money but how to use it". He however said that he was one of those who would remained perpetually against the"Not too young to rule" Bill stressing that it is a form of neocolonialism and equally not found anywhere in the world. Dickson said that the Nigerian youth is not homogeneous because his problem are different based on environments and society, therefore, they cannot all have a sense of direction as currently being exploited. He further made it categorically clear that he has vehemently kicked against giving power to the youths taking into cognizance their antecedents. "I can't give power to the youths, when I look at what NANs is doing. I look at somebody in NANs, I look at SAs that he has, I look at how he squandered SUG's money and he has not even see security vote

Katdapba Yunana Gobum, giving his goodwill message

"Is that the youth we are talking about? The Yahoo yahoo youth? the ritual youth?. Which youth are talking about?, Dickson asked rhethorically. He further observed that the youth conversation has been clouded in cosmetic approached, "suffice to say, if we just give the youth mantle of leadership, all our problems would be solved at once.

"My argument is that if you don't have sense of direction, age is immaterial. Power is everything but I think the sense of excitement of the young generation puts folly in their minds.

"The average age for American President (for the past 200 years) is 55. In the history of America, only two of their Presidents were less than 45 years - Kennedy and Obama.

Cross section of participants at the event

"So, if you look at it critically, Nigeria has even produced younger Presidents than America."He reiterated the fact that the youths are full of folly and don't have a sense of purpose adding that responsibility is what it's all about. "The young people in Nigeria must remember that beyond APC and PDP, there is a party called YPP. YPP stands for Young People's Party. Leave the PDP and APC for the old ones, join the YPP and create a mass movement.

"Mass movement doesn't need money, it only needs focus. Also, nothing succeeds without good leadership and leadership is not about a number , it's about understanding, it's about belief", Dickson said.

DCC Nkom Samson Katung, Representatives of Commandant NSCDC, Plateau State Commandant,

Goodwill messages came from the Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Plateau State, Hon. Chrysantus Ahmadu who was represented by Barr. Solomon Gyang Deme, DD Public Prosecution ministry of Justice, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Plateau State, represented by Chinyere Okorie, Plateau State Commandant of the Nigerian Service and Civil Defence Corps, represented by DD Commandant and head of Peace and Conflict Management, Nkom samson Katung, Hon. Sam Gordons, Katdapba Yunana Gobum, veteran journalist and former Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists Plateau State Chapter and many from many representatives of NGOs and other Government establishments. According to its Technical Director Gideon Okoko, Bege Foundation has been existing for almost 8 years and what the NGO has been doing within the period was bringing people together to discuss on contemporary issues as it affect their Communities and proffer solutions. He said that at the end of every meeting, committees were set up to go and look at issues raised after which these Committees would returned to the organization with feedback. According to Okoko, the theme for this month program was to ensure young people contributed to making the electoral processes transparent and credible in order to produce quality leaders taking into account the challenges of the country.

Kemi, participant

He further noted that the Organization was aimed at encouraging and strengthening young people's involvement in the electoral processes not only during elections but pre, during and after elections. "Because part of the plan of the organization is to build the capacity of young people on electoral early warning and early response mechanisms on one side and on the other side, to ensure that young people have the capacity to be able to follow up and put a check on the electoral representatives. In this case, we want to build their capacity around social responsibility", Okoko said.

Luka, participant

All the participants who spoke to African Drum expressed delight over the way and manner the event was organized noting that the tremendous benefits from the program would surely served as catalyst to promoting peace in their various communities.

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