The Former Head of Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given out some useful information ahead of the 2019 elections explaining why youths must be constructively engaged in politics.
Professor Attahiru Jega, who was a guest speaker at an event at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday delivered a lecture on the need for volunteers in Nigeria’s electoral process and warned that the unemployment situation in the country needs to be tackled fast.
He said the nation sits on a keg of gun powder if it does not creatively divert the energy of her idle youthful population.
READ ALSO: Ambode’s Special Adviser, Deji Tinubu Dies While Playing Football
“It’s important that we find ways and the means of constructively engaging youths in politics, the electoral process, governance process, otherwise, rather than the youths being potentially used for development, it can turn into a nemesis and create more crisis.”
He said the younger generation if not constructively engaged may fall victim to those who will employ them to carry out negative activities which might develop into a greater crisis.
“We are beginning to see it, in many African countries, even here in Nigeria, the many unemployed youths are being utilised negatively in politics and during elections.
“They are increasingly frustrated by unemployment. Whether they are secondary school graduates or university graduates. That frustration is a keg of gunpowder and if it is not properly managed it is possible governance processes will obviously explode.”
The post Former INEC Chairman Calls For ‘Constructive Engagement’ Of Youths In Politics appeared first on Channels Television.
Former INEC Chairman Calls For ‘Constructive Engagement’ Of Youths In Politics
