Youths in Abia have vowed to surprise politicians who believe they can always rig the state’s elections.
They also vowed to prevent bad leaders, who they claimed had already stolen their future, from also destroying the future of their children.
They are determined to end their captivity because they believe it is abnormal for their own offspring to serve the same political lords who are holding them captive.
The young people who swore to control their own fate beginning from 2023 offered red cars to corrupt officials and opportunistic politicians holding the country hostage.They swore to never again sell their votes for “a piece of bread,” warning that crooks who were planning to use public funds they had saved up to buy young people’s good consciences in 2023 would be let down.The announcement was made by a coalition of various youth organizations in Umuahia, the state’s capital, when they paid a visit to Hon. Okechukwu Apugo, the ASEPA’s former general manager.
They voiced dissatisfaction that persons they had previously trusted and voted into office had betrayed them.The young people swore to vote against anyone who had oppressed the masses using their political positions as weapons.” They have already destroyed our future; we only want to stop them from ruining the future of our children also”, yelled the youth leaders who converged from different parts of the state, mostly Ikwuano and Umuahia.
The 2023 election, according to the young people who claimed to come from various political backgrounds, will be based on personal preference.They contend that individual contenders’ talent, competence, and backgrounds—rather than the symbol of their political party—will be taken into consideration.” We are after good governace. We are tired of party.
All we want is a better Abia State. We want those that will truly empower us and not give us KEKE (tricycle) while storing our common patrimony for their unborn generation”.
One of the youth leaders, Hon. Chibueze Okankpa, said during his speech that the youth of Abia had endured enough suffering at the hands of evil politicians who had used them to gain power before abandoning them.” We have suffered immeasurably in the hands of these people. They only remember us whenever election is coming around but we will disappoint them in 2023.” Never again shall Abia youths be used as tissue paper. Nobody will use us to rig election again only to steal our common wealth later.” These people are evil. They give pita to us and use our mandates to enrich themselves while we remain beggars and live in penury”.
Similarly, Comrade Patrick Ugochukwu, the leader of Action Youths, declared that the time of enslaved youths from Abia was over. “Enough is enough. We have rejected them and their money.”
Hon. Obinna Igwe of Anambra State, who claimed to have been born and raised in Umuahia, expressed sadness that politicians in the state had a history of using youngsters to further their own narrow interests before abandoning them.
He swore to rally odd elements in the state against those who were abusing their political influence to destroy young people’s futures.Igwe lamented the fact that corrupt politicians had consistently used hunger as a tool to further their agendas by feeding hungry youngsters peanuts during elections.
He urged young people to reject all financial incentives and support candidates who have their interests in mind when casting their ballots.” Let’s not sell the future of our children because the politicians have already taken our own future. We must stop them from stealing the future of our children also. It’s time to use our PVC to retire them”.
When it was their turn to speak, the visibly furious young leaders swore to mobilize their varied followers throughout the state against “political principalities” holding the state ransom.They criticized politicians’ immorality and insensitivity toward the suffering of the public, particularly the youth “whom they have rendered hopeless.
“The teenagers begged Apugo, whom they praised for resisting godfatherism and injustice, to assist in giving guidance to the throngs of Abia youths who were “now ready to take their future in their hands.
“The former ASEPA boss responded by thanking the young people for their determination to control their own fate.
He often emphasized the necessity of unity among Abia youngsters, regardless of their political allegiances, if their goal of political independence was to be achieved.Apugo, who claimed to be a steadfast member of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stated that party will not have any role in choosing the choice of Abia youths in the elections of 2023.” We will assess all the candidates based on their antecedents and whoever will build our state and make life better for the people will get our mandate.” The era of buying youths over with money is gone for good. We no longer need their money for elections.
“Let’s stop collecting their money because that’s why when they get into office they start packing money they will use to buy their way through during the next election instead of working for the people.” I’m in PDP and have never left PDP but in 2023, it’s going to be Abia first. We will listen to all the candidates and choose the best among them not minding their platforms.”
