Date: 2015-02-03

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives candidate for Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency in the February elections, Alhaji Sherif Shagaya has called on Kwara youths to capitalize, on their numerical advantage to ask for their deserved place in the politics of the State.

Shagaya, who made this call while receiving a large contingents of youth groups and associations, including the Kwara State Chapters of the Peace Ambassadors and the Jonathan Shall Lead Again Movement (JOSLA-M), in his campaign office located along Asa Dam road Ilorin, promised to assist any young and vibrant person who shows political promise to realize his ambition.

Speaking through his Director-General on Contact, Mobilization and Logistics, Alhaji Muftau Akanbi Oke, Shagaya observes that youths mostly mistake enthusiasm and support for candidates as political involvement. But, according to the potential lawmaker, "youths must begin to take a more proactive step by forming formidable groups that could serve as instrument for negotiating for political power and relevance. Those already in possession of power would not just give it up, but people like you can force their hands by breaking that circle of oligarchy that is somehow becoming impenetrable".

Shagaya, who hammered on the need for more pro-active youth groups to come together to create and demand for political space for the youths, beseeched the visiting youth groups not to relent on their oars; just as he charged them to mobilize votes for him because, according to the lawmaker hopeful, "My winning this election will open the door for more young people to climb the political ladder. As one of you, a victory for me is a victory for all Kwara youths who believe in the freedom to dream and to aspire to attain ambitions without hindrance".

Responding on behalf of the youth groups, Jimoh Mohammed Ibrahim, the Kwara State chairman of the Jonathan Shall Lead Again Movement (JOSLA-M) thanked Alhaji Shagaya for abandoning his comfort zone in order to build a new political order and platform that is capable of energizing and emboldening the youths to demand for a real voice in the corridor of power.

Comrade Ibrahim also disclosed that his group had concluded arrangements to deliver over 9,000 votes to aid the victory of Shagaya in the February 14 National Assembly elections.