Osun election: Avoid vote buying and vote for competence; NYCN President challenges electorates and youths

By Adeleye Kunle

Comrade Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has urged electorates, particularly youths, not to sell their votes and instead vote for candidates who have the competence and capacity to ensure the delivery of democratic dividends.

Sukubo made the remarks on Tuesday in Ilorin, at a one-day youth leadership seminar for youths in the North Central, with the theme “Youth and Leadership in Niger: 2023 in Perspective.”

He stated that the council is deeply concerned about the high level of vote buying that rocked the recent elections in Ekiti state, which also involved a large number of youths, and that the call became necessary as a result.

The president of the NYCN stated that it is unthinkable for any young person to give up four years of good performance in government for N10,000 or even more, calling it sacrilegious and unpardonable.

“Nothing could be more infuriating than that,” he said, “so we are sincerely appealing to the electorates in Osun, particularly our youths, to think outside the box and vote for competence.”

“If they are not keeping their election promises, that is the only way to hold them accountable.” However, if you have collected money or any material gains, you have given them permission to be corrupt in government, and the masses are the losers; therefore, the money collected cannot justify the sufferings inflicted on the people by those who bought your votes.”

Sukubo also urged other stakeholders in Osun state to actively participate in the election and vote for their preferred candidates.

He did, however, attribute the problem of vote buying among youths to unemployment and poverty, urging political leaders to do the right thing by creating a level playing field for all to survive.

“The only way to address the issue of vote buying is for the government at all levels to provide a level playing field, reduce unemployment, and address the issue of insecurity so that peace reigns supreme throughout Nigeria.”

Sukubo, who called for unity among the country’s youths and all other stakeholders ahead of 2023, stated that it is unity of purpose that will usher in new socioeconomic growth for the country.

He also used the occasion to commend the governor of Kwara state, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for including youths in his administration.

He stated that the development has helped to improve the skills and intellectual capacity of the state’s youth.

Sukubo, on the other hand, stated that the youths would do everything possible to support the governor in 2023 in order for him to continue with its youth-inclusive governance.

Earlier, Comrade Muhktar Akoshile, vice president, North Central Zone of NYCN, stated that the summit was organized to educate and enlighten youths in the North Central zone, which includes Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Nassarawa, Niger, and Plateau states.

He stated that the era of using youths as a political tool in the country has passed, and that the summit will position the youths as future leaders who will also take positive responsibility in the country’s democratic governance.

Akoshile has therefore urged the state’s youths to rally behind Governor AbdulRazaq in order to ensure that more young people are involved in governance by 2023.

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