By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus
Ilorin – As 2019 general elections approach, an NGO, Hannis Institute for Development Studies (HIDS), says it will engage Kwara youths and governorship candidates in the state in an interactive forum on Dec. 13 to boost democracy.
The leader of the forum, Mr Lawal Olohungbebe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin.
He said that the forum would also create neutral platform for the governorship candidates in the state to showcase their plans for the youth in the area.
Olohungbebe added that it was designed to bridge communication gap between the candidates and the public as well as set agenda for political stakeholders on how to improve on the well being of the people.
According to him, issues to be raised at the forum would form the basis upon which candidates and their political parties would be assessed by voters, particularly youths.
”It is in a view to make Kwara youths understand their candidates’ positions on array of issues, ranging from policy statement, leadership qualities, personal and professional integrity to competence.
”The forum will, no doubt, allow voters to make informed voting choice.
”It is poised to set a youth policy agenda through a robust discussion of the issue facing the youth. They will also be educated on the policy platform that each candidate will run on,” he said.
Olohungbebe said that unlike debates, the forum is a real time interaction between a candidate and voters.
He said that candidates would be given certain amount of time to interact with the youth on their manifesto and how they would government the people, if elected.