Kafanchan (Kaduna) – The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Jema’a Local Government, Kaduna State, has advised youths to insist on participating in electoral processes that determine Nigeria’s leaders.
“Youths must be fully involved in the electoral process; they must obtain voter’s cards and ensure they voted so as to have a say in who governs them,” Mr Joel Adegboyega, Chairman, Youth wing of the body, said in Kafanchan on Monday.
Adegboyega, who expressed optimism that youth participation would guarantee good governance, spoke during a stakeholders’ meeting on security and governance, organized by CAN.
He stressed the need for youths to also register and be members of political parties through which they could contest leadership positions.
“The continuous voter’s registration exercise is in full swing. It is an opportunity for us to be part of politics. We should not just be spectators and analysts,” he declared.
The official regretted that the crisis witnessed in parts of the south of Kaduna State had crippled the economic and educational lives of the people, and urged stakeholders to seek out ways to end the violence.
He said that the meeting would focus on elections, roles and expectations, peace building strategies, sustainable development and participation in governance.
Pastor Gideon Mutum, one of the Speakers at the occasion, advised youths to demand quality representation from their elected representatives.
“Youths must ask questions. They must insist on policies and actions that will impact on the lives of the people,” he said.
Mutum cautioned against redundancy, saying that the current economic realities should challenge everyone to look inward toward being self-reliant.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the meeting attracted youths from various denominations in the local government.