Women and youths on Osun State have been charged to get themselves integrated into the country’s polity to be part of decision-making in the governance of the nation.
The Osun State Coordinator of the US Government Exchange Alumni Association, Dr. Femi Adefila, gave the charge.
Adefila, the Chief Executive Officer of Rave FM 91.7, spoke on Tuesday at a town hall meeting organised for political stakeholders in the state ahead of the upcoming governorship election in the state.
Speaking on the theme: “Increasing Women and Youth Participation In Politics and Electoral Processes,” at the programme held in Osogbo, the state capital, Adefila stated: “This period is the most auspicious for youth and women’s participation, especially as the Osun gubernatorial election draws nearer.
“Women and youths, who constitute 101 million and 33.3 million of Nigeria’s population, should be encouraged to participate in politics.
“We want to sensitise them, to galvanize their interests and their consciousness that it is a civic responsibility that we should take very seriously.
“Do you imagine 101 million women and 33.3 million being passive and not active in politics?
“We told them there are no polling units on social media, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, you need to be active.
“You need to leave the comfort of your home, go to the polling units and perform your civic responsibility.
“That is the only strategy for you to use to elect your leaders.
“Enough of complaining and enough of gang-standing; it is time for active participation.”
While expressing displeasure at the lukewarm attitude of women and youth in politics, Adefila said they needed to be encouraged to make it serious.
According to him: “In a few days, we are having the Osun State election and next year, we are having a presidential election.
“How do we have active participation and an inclusive democracy?
“In Nigeria, we have 101.67 million women and 33.6 million youth, and through democracy, they are not active in politics as they should be in our democracy and democratic process in the essence of it how do we encourage women, and more youth to participate actively in the electoral process to sensitise them to make the electoral process very seriously.
“You have to leave your home, go to the polling unit and exercise your civic right.
“That is the only strategy for you to elect the leader of your choice. Enough of complaining.
“It’s time for active participation in the election processes so that the leader of your choice can be selected by you.
“This is the most suspicious time to raise this kind of narrative to the consciousness of the people.
“This is the time to take it to the people that it’s important that they take their civic responsibility seriously, and it’s acceptable for you to complain thereafter if you fail to participate in this process now because you are giving a great opportunity to elect a leader of your choice and do not sell your vote.
“Women have not been participating and they should be.
“We need to let them realise that they should step up and participate in politics.
“It’s not about agitating, it’s about negotiation and active practice in politics.”
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