Ahead of the 2023 governorship election, Enugu Youth leaders said they’re “working to galvanize youths interests, expectations and concerns across the state into a youth development policy document that would represent a pact between the Youths and the incoming administration.”
The Youth Leaders said: “The content of this pact would be culled from position papers drawn from different youths organization and from youth representatives across the 260 wards in Enugu State. The Enugu Youth Development pact would represent the documented overall interest of Enugu Youths.”
In a Press conference held in Enugu on Tuesday, they emphasized that “any Governorship candidate that adopts it (Enugu Youth Development pact) would enjoy the unanimous support and endorsement of the Youths constituency. Subsequently, The Enugu Youth support group will swing into action in total support of our signee Governorship Candidate.”
The different leaders said they have decided to come under a “United Youths front in order to pursue the collective best interest of young people in Enugu State, adding that they “understand that the past few years in Enugu State have witnessed discordant pursuits of personal interests cloaked as collective youth agenda.
“This disposition have had dire consequences we did not fathom. We have therefore examined our journey so far and have unanimously agreed that to move forward and to exert our capacities maximally, a United Enugu Youths front is necessary. We therefore cease this medium to call on every individual or youth organisations to identify and align with this collective position and shun every urge to pursue interests that endanger our new found unity.
“Every State actor and authority is also by this press conference called to the realization that the activities of any individual or group outside the designation of this front does not represent the general interest of the youths.”
The statement which was signed by 28 Enugu Youth leaders and representatives drawn from different organizations, regions and local government areas expressed their unceasing gratitude to Enugu State governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi “for his fatherly disposition and the countless achievements of his administration which has significantly advanced the collective destiny of the Wawa people.
“Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi will forever live and enjoy a soft spot in the hearts of young persons in Enugu for the opportunity he gave to youths to flourish and become their best selves. Never in history have Youths had this level of access and inclusion. It can not be argued that Enugu State remains the number one state in the implementation of the not too young to run bill,
“We therefore unanimously reaffirm the assertion that Gov. Ugwuanyi remains the most youth friendly Governor in Nigeria. Let this press conference convey our emotions and sentiment to the good people of Enugu North Senatorial zone and call them to the realization that Gov. Ugwuanyi is one man that has the largeness of heart and the capacity to redefine senatorial representation in the zone.
They also called on the Youths to get ready with their PVCs and be ready to play their role in the forthcoming election, urging them to resist any temptation of being used to thwart the yearnings of the people.
“Conclusively, this press conference would be incomplete without addressing the entirety of Enugu Youths who are and will remain the major actors in the 2023 election theatrics. We enjoin young people to get ready with their PVC as it is the only truly effective weapon in the coming election. Those who are yet to collect their PVC from INEC should as a matter of necessity do so as soon as possible.
“Young people must realize their value and their role as it concerns electioneering. We must resist every urge to be used as agents of any form of destabilisation. The social dominance of the youth population in Nigeria is by implication a major variable for establishing, driving and sustaining social order or disorder. There is then no doubt that the atmosphere of the 2023 elections is highly dependent on the character and disposition of young people in the state. Electoral violence in any guise must be shunnned at all cost.
“The desire for a free, fair and credible elections must be backed by deliberate and concerted efforts from every well meaning Youth in the state.”
