From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A lecturer from the department of Political Science, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Mr. Charles Eghweree, has urged the Nigerian youths to take their destinies in their hands and get actively involved in the nation’s political process rather than taking the back seat.
He gave the task while delivering his keynote address at an event put together by Gatefield for students of Political Science, University of Benin and other civil society groups in Edo state.
Speaking on the theme “Frame Democracy, Mr. Eghweree who is the Head of Department, Political Science, said that their refusal to participate in the nation’s politics whether local, state or national, gives room for those who are not qualified to mount the leadership positions and start calling the shots.
Eghweree said for them to take their rightful place in the scheme of things and put the country in the right footings, they (the youths) must ignite and develop their interest in politics.
He said Chief Anthony Enahoro, Nnamdi Azikiwe and other Nigerian nationalists were youths when they made their marks in the nation’s politics adding that, they should be encouraged by them so that they can correct the present political settings in the country.
While saying that the present day politicians have succeeded in using poverty as weapon against the masses, maintained that the Nigerian youths still stand the chance of redeeming themselves by developing interest in politics through participation and possibly registering a political party of their choice.
Earlier, the Project Manager, Frame Democracy, Jafar Mahmud, said that Nigeria, though a democratic nation but still has traces of authoritarianism which must be corrected.
He said that the organization decided to zero on the political science students to help drive the process of educating and sensitizing the youths to be politically inclined with the view of correcting the mistakes of the past leaders noting that the future of the country rests squarely on their shoulders.
Some of the students, Oshoke David and Okolie Isabella, thanked the organizers of the event for coming up with such a programme which they both said, have spurred them to be actively involved in the nation’s politics.