By Mumini AbdulKareem
A member representing Kwara Central at the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon AbdulKareem AbdulKareem has called for youth inclusiveness by political parties in the State to further cement the relationship between political parties and the constituency.
AbdulKareem disclosed this in Ilorin, last week when he paid an advocacy visit to the political parties in the state which involved leadership of All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This action he noted was in a bid to liaise with political parties and other stakeholders involved to pave the way for youth emancipation in politics most importantly their full engagement in good governance, decision making and policy formulation in line with the National Youth Policy framework.
AbdulKareem explained that the agenda is for the youth make impacts in their immediate constituency by extensively leveraging on all available resources to build capacity through open political engagement, economic and social transformation opportunities for patriotic and energetic youths.
During his meeting with the APC state Chairman, Hon. Bashiru Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB), AbdulKareem reaffirmed the need for APC as ruling party in the state to continue to engage the youths in their activities as they remains critical stakeholders in the political cycle.
Responding, Bolarinwa stated that Kwara APC is supportive to youth constituency and as such, it’s evidently shown in many of “our elective positions such as the State Assembly which has a significant number of youths amounting to over 80% that emerged under our party platform in the last general election.
“This shows how committed, supportive and youth friendliness our party is to youth engagement in politics and in the good governance of our dear state. We therefore avail them the opportunity to contribute their quota in the developments, growth and sound administration for better Kwara”, he added.
Furthermore, Bolarinwa urged youth parliament to further orientate their constituents on the need to always have meaningful impacts in national developments through participation which is going to be avenue of ideas and inputs.
“Youths should take charge and get involved in politics, hence there’s always opportunities for them in the political sharing formula”, he added.
In a related development, the chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Engr. Kola Shittu has assured the youth parliament of the party’s unalloyed stand at all times support to youth constituency.
Shittu further encouraged AbdulKareem to firmly believe on his constituents and do well in contributing to their wellbeing.
In his reactions, AbdulKareem applauded both political parties in the state for the opportunity given to him to have robust conversation and meaningful discussion on the progress of the state especially as it relates to the youth.
He reassured the parties on the readiness of the youth to take responsibility in real governance which is beyond appointing youth as Special Assistants or Advisers.
“We need to be involved in the real governance of the state by leadership positions that can make us make the necessary change in the society. Real positions should be allocated for our youths at helms of affairs”.
He stated that the coming 2023 general elections will show if the political parties are ready to confirm to the world the cliché, “Build the youth, Build the nation”.
