Recession, politics and Nigerian youths: What option?
By Olowo Babatope Sunday.
For long, youths in this country have been going through difficult times as a result of maladministration and neglect by previous administrations.
Democracy will only work by the enthronement of justice through popular will. It therefore becomes imperative that youths who make up a sizeable number of our population show their support.
The provision of qualitative and affordable education for youths will empower them to contribute meaningfully to our country’s technological advancement. An educated youth is a potential problem solver to his or her country. Anyone without education may end up as a social misfit.
Unfortunately, the latter set of youths have become tools in the hands of political office seekers who use them to create mayhem during electioneering campaigns.
Youths have undeniable energy by virtue of their age. Hence their role in the sustenance of democracy cannot be over emphasized. They have what it takes to continually keep the economic-engine of the country running when empowered. Such empowerment will ensure creation of employment opportunities for others. To do otherwise might leave them frustrated and of course a country that neglects its youth is only toying with the best part of its future.
However, in affirming a stand for Nigerian youths, it is well known that power is not easily attained; one must struggle for it. Power will not get to the youths on a platter of gold. They must come out of their cocoons and begin to make sacrifices in search for power. Research has shown that most youths are not members of any political party and those who do, don’t attend ward meetings; yet that is where major decisions that determine our future are made.
Youths must be resolute; they must be interested in how they are governed, policy formulation and implementation and in political and economic environment. That is the only way power can get to them.
Youths must show capacity and interest in every aspect of our national life and must also make sure that they react to the environment. Power ultimately belongs to God. But when man wants it, he must labour for it.
Youths constitute about 69 percent of our population and possess almost 75 percent of voting rights. They have the strength, energy, dynamism, intellectual prowess and more importantly, the population to capture power. In this regard, I advise dynamic youths to stop criticizing government without proffering solutions to problems. They should rather contest for positions in their respective locality or contribute policy formulation and implementation.
We might be right to say that corruption begets recession and nearly every one of us must have benefited one way or the other from this malaise.
The cobbler, fashion designer, the media, mechanic, bricklayer, plumber, laborers, and many other technicians are all grumbling due to economic recession. Vehicle dealers are complaining because their wares are begging for buyers. Private school owners are under stress because parents can no longer afford to pay outrageous school fees and are withdrawing their wards from school.
Sometime ago, a senior lawyer friend told me he prefers immediate past government to the current one because he benefited immensely from it and had to relocate abroad because of recession. For how long are going to continue developing already developed countries with our human resources? Why don’t we practice what is done in those countries to develop ours.
To get out of recession, youths should adopt the following strategies:
Shun acts capable of truncating the ideals of democracy.
Empower yourself through quality education to be able to contribute your quota to the technological progress and economic development of the country.
When I was in elementary school, we were given farm lands to plant crops which we visited every Thursday. That idea has been buried in our schools, yet we want to grow as a country. Agricultural practices need to be re-introduced into our educational curriculum to end poverty and hunger in Nigeria. Government should also encourage and empower youths to take to agriculture. We all know that agriculture is the largest employer of labour. Youths will be most useful in this initiative.
Finally, to be able to do away with the following in our society such as corruption, poverty, weak government institutions, greed, poor education and illiteracy, youths must have a vision and work with it. This attribute can be seen in individuals like Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Bill Gate, John Kennedy, Thomas Edison, Barrack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Henry Ford, Abraham Lincoln and several other. Youths should be self-reliant, shun violence, maintain integrity, and stop demanding for money before voting in any election. We must all be encouraged to vote only visionaries with humane and companionate personality.
Youths should be mindful of not voting money-bags into office as they will only go there to recoup their investment in this part of the world.
Julius Nyerere of Tanzania, Plato and Aristotle warned that a capitalist or someone who pays you to vote for him will practically dominate you when he gets there.
The Americans are conscious of this fact, and we can draw examples from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton electioneering campaigns. Trump is one of the world’s richest man, yet we never saw him campaigning by sharing money to the electorate. That is discipline and obedience to the rule of law. If the older generation has refused to do this, let us begin it to save our generation. Youths must participate in active politics because that is what determines our existence. Youths must strive to join decision makers.
Fellow youths, we are the engine room of any nation. Therefore, we must make every sacrifice to revive our beloved country Nigeria by changing our thought pattern. May God help Nigeria.
By Olowo Babatope Sunday , Ekiti State governorship aspirant 2018.
Email: tolowo2001@yahoo.com
+2348034997567
Share please. It's not about Olowo Babatope Sunday, but about us

Nigeria youths Re useless. They would suffer till they die

chinoxstock:
Nigeria youths Re useless. They would suffer till they die

I wic d reality is done on you

My aspiration is that the forgotten, the poor and the disadvantaged are reintroduced into our society by providing them the basic amenities. No woman should die during childbirth. No child should die because of lack of access to medical care.Attending private schools should be a choice not a neccesity.The financial burden of our state should not be borne by traders,artisans,okada riders and small business owners struggling to find three square meals a day.-------Olowo Babatope
,#OBS2018
BETTERLIFEFORALL.

When I talk about change of power to the youth, I do so through the prism of interacting with ordinary people. Government has to CHANGE. Government must work not just for the elites but for the unconnected, the regular man on the streets, the artisan, the market woman, the school teacher, the service man.

*REACTIONS OF OLOWO BABATOPE SUNDAY MOVEMENT (OBSM) TO THE PURPORTED ADOPTION OF PROF. KOLAPO OLUSOLA DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF EKITI STATE AS CONSENSUS/SOLE CANDIDATE FOR PDP GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IN 2018.*

1. The attention of OBSM has been drawn to the charade that took place at the Government house this afternoon by some political appointees, Councillors and a few members of the House of Assembly allegedly adopting Prof. Olusola as their "consensus/sole" candidate for 2018 Gubernatorial election in Ekiti state. This is a clear breach of the constitution of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) and the provisions of the Electoral Act (as amended).

See Sections 50 (1), Section 50(2) and 50(2b) of the PDP constitution (2012)as amended.

The meeting of the amorphous group that was hastily convened today out of fear for the overwhelming popularity of youth advocacy for power to the youth. It is important to note that PDP as a political party is bigger and larger than an individual no matter how highly placed he or she may be as to override the rules and regulations of the party which are sacrossant in the election of any candidate for elective position.

OLOWO BABATOPE SUNDAY movement (OBSM) believes in credible, transparent and free and fair primary for all aspirants for the position of governor come 2018.

OBSM rejects the purported adoption of a sole candidate in its entirety as there are many other aspirants for the governorship race in 2018.

This gathering was organized and supervised by Governor Fayose to impose a stooge as the sole candidate for PDP in EKITI State.

Finally, we implore members of the public and our teaming supporters to ignore and disregard the charade that took place at the Government house today. It will go down in history as a day of infamy in the already dark days of Fayose's administration.

Signed
TUNDE ADENIRAN
FOR: OLOWO BABATOPE SUNDAY
(OBSM)

Biography of Olowo, Babatope Sunday (OBS)
Background
The associated joy that usually accompanies the birth of a baby boy in Yoruba-land is always unspeakable. One can then imagine the excitement and celebrations that enveloped the family of High Chief S.S. Olowo, the Elejofi of Awo Ekiti, in Irepodun/Ifelodun local government area of Ekiti State and his wife Aminatu, on Sunday 5th of May in 1982, when the good Lord blessed the family with a baby boy in Ado-Ekiti. The joy knew no bounds considering the fact the baby boy came ! As fate would have it, the birth was miraculous. Right from his birth, he came as a unique child with prospects and a promising future. Christened Babatope on the eight day, the adventure and exposure of the young boy began early as he started his life and grew up in Lagos where he had his primary and post-primary educations at Estate Baptist Primary School and Gbaja Boys High School, respectively, both in Surulere area of the cosmopolitan city. As a fast growing young man who was developing in intellect and knowledge of life, Babatope, like the proverbial river, thought it wise not to forget his source and decided, out of the myriads of options available to him, to pursue his higher education in no other state than his home state, Ekiti. Thus, he gained admission to the then University of Ado Ekiti (now Ekiti State University) in the year 2003 for a degree programme.
Like a destined golden fish with no hiding place, the young man’s charisma and leadership qualities were brought to the fore in his days in the University where he actively participated in Campus politics, held some leadership positions and once got the “Award of Best Politician”. His political activism did not deter him from facing his primary assignment on campus as he successfully graduated with his mates with a B.Sc. Degree in Banking and Finance in the year 2007. Upon his graduation, he did his National Youth Service (Batch A) with Sterling Bank PLC in Ibadan, Oyo State, between 2008 and 2009. At the end of his NYSC, the adventurous Babatope left the shore of Nigeria, in his quest for a brighter future, self-development, education and exposure. He obtained a Certificate in Security and Safety from Edith Coman University, Australia. In addition to this is a certificate from the National Security Institute, Abu Dhabi in the year 2012. He also got an International General Certificate (IGC) in Occupational Health & Safety which he obtained in 2014 from Nebosh, United Kingdom. All of these, amongst others, distinguished him as a well- trained security and safety consultant of many years, with which he has worked in different countries, such as United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and Nigeria; where he has acquired strong strategic management and leadership skills. Very focused, godly and purposeful; Babatope is married and blessed with children. A lover of youths, Babatope is hardworking, gentle, soft spoken, reticent, humble and loving. But with a passion and determination for the cause of ameliorating the sufferings of the helpless masses, a cause he has been pursuing since his undergraduate days. There can be no dull-moment with Babatope, not with his good sense of humour; one of the qualities that endears him to all, such that makes him a pleasant personality to be with always.
OLOWO, Babatope Sunday