As the nation prepares for the 2015 general elections, youths have been advised not to lay down their lives for any politician to win an election.

They were also urged to engage aspirants for elective positions based on what they have to offer the electorate if elected.

Dr. Joseph Fayeye of the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, gave the advice in his lecture at the induction ceremony of new members of the Society of Intellectuals in Kwara State held in Ilorin yesterday.

He warned youths against being used as agents of violence and destruction, saying doing so would amount to "devaluing themselves."

Speaking on "The Role of Youth in Promotion of Peaceful Environment for Credible Election", Fayeye noted that youths cannot afford to be used as cheap labour to disrupt elections.

According to him, Nigerian youths must participate actively in politics by being card carrying members of political parties as the only way to prevent electing incompetent people to decide their future.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) Federal Polytechnic Kaura Nomoda, Mallam Abdulkareem Ibrahim, condemned sidelining youths from the decision making process.

Lamented that student movements that ought make case for youths have been infiltrated and used as instruments for political gains.