Comr Onyebuchi Urges Nigerian youths to Positively and Actively Engage in Nation's Politics. By CHiNONYEREM IGWE, Abuja.

The Chairman of National Youth Leaders of All Political Parties in Nigeria, Comr. Onyebuchi Eze, has called for concerted efforts to advance the meaningful participation of young people in Nigerian politics.

He made the call during a one-day Hang Out with Journalists in Abuja, in collaboration with youth leaders drawn from different political parties, under the theme: “The Place of Nigeria’s Youths in Political Discourse in 2027 and Beyond.”

According to Comr. Onyebuchi Eze, youths have watched politicians crisscross the country, realigning and rebranding their positions ahead of 2027 without any clear, discernible plan for young people—either before or after the elections. “We have also watched youths fight one another in defence of these politicians, without clearly understanding their place in the wider political narrative leading into 2027 and beyond,” he noted.

He reminded Nigerians that the gathering of such magnitude was not merely another political event. “It is a timely national conversation—an occasion for sober reflection and an awakening concerning the future of Nigerian youths within the political and governance architecture of our dear country.”

He further emphasized that any nation that disregards its youths has, in effect, accepted stagnation. “A country that consistently sidelines the energy, creativity, innovation, courage, and resilience of its young people is a nation that has, perhaps unwittingly, declared war against its own future.”

Comr. Onyebuchi Eze expressed confidence in Nigerian youths, noting that they constitute over 60 percent of the population and, as such, form the engine room of the nation. “We determine election outcomes. We dominate the labour force. We drive innovation, entertainment, technology, sports, business, activism, and national

conversations. Yet, we remain grossly underrepresented in the real corridors of power and governance.”

He stressed that the issue at hand was not simply about politics—it was about Nigeria’s future, and whether young people would continue to be deployed as political foot soldiers or ultimately emerge as genuine political stakeholders.

In underscoring the historical role of youth in nation-building, he recalled that Nigeria’s independence was championed by young and vibrant nationalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe and Anthony Enahoro, among many others. “The struggle for Nigeria’s independence was largely propelled by youthful Nigerians who believed they had a future to build,” he stated.

He frowned on the current trend, noting that many young people of this era are treated as mere praise singers, social media warriors, or political thugs. “Our youths must be nation builders,” he insisted, urging them to immerse themselves more actively in politics. “They should be contributors to the political evolution of Nigeria, not accessories to political theatrics.”

He cited a stark contrast in the past and present: “When young people held leadership positions, Nigeria progressed. Our educational institutions functioned. Our currency had value. Our economy inspired hope. Leaders built infrastructure. There was vision, there was direction, and there was national pride. But somewhere along the line, Nigerian youth ceased to be regarded as partners in leadership and were reduced to instruments of political conquest.”

He also lamented that for decades, youths have been deployed during elections and abandoned afterward—an arrangement that has not advanced their political development. “During campaigns, they are called ‘leaders of tomorrow.’ After victory, that tomorrow never comes. We remember them only when rallies are required, when social media battles must be fought, and when crowds have to be mobilized. But when appointments are made, when policies are formulated, when opportunities are created, and when power is transferred, the youths vanish from the table.”

Comr. Onyebuchi Eze further narrated the painful reality that, in many instances, leaders no longer empower youths with character, competence, and capacity. “Instead,” he said, “what we increasingly witness is the empowerment—and sometimes the bribed compensation—of youths who simply position themselves to be used for ungodly acts.”

He therefore encouraged young people to take ownership of their political future and reclaim their rightful place in leadership and governance.