The unified body of Anambra youths under the aegis of the Progressive Anambra Youths (PAY) has voiced out its readiness to fight any form of
political godfatherism and candidate’s imposition in the coming Nov 16
governorship election in the state.
National co-ordinator of the group Comrade Smart Nonso Okafor who
disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Awka yesterday,
said that the youths are always at the recieving end of the acts of
the political misdemeanor because in his views, imposed/foisted
governments have been known for not acting in the peoples’ interest.
The situation has therefore criminalized and disenfranchised a lot of
the citizens, especially the youth due to non-empowerment from those
political office holders.
He declared that any one that want to manouvre the system or
manipulate the electorate in the state this time for the purpose of
subverting their will and wishes in the governorship election would
have the youths to contend with.
Comrade Okafor emphasized that the youths are no longer ready to sit
on the fence while people that are not interested in their welfare and
betterment take the centre stage. He said the youths will work out an
avenue through which the candidates of all the political parties would
present their manifesto and that his group will work day and night for
victory of any candidate of their choice .
According to him, “We will convince our parents to vote for a
candidate that will work in our favour, someone who will give us
employment .”
He said that his group will not only canvass votes for their
preferred candidate but will also protect the votes so cast for him.
Asked to comment on what would happen if their choice candidate later
dumps them after using them to win, the national co-ordinator said
that such ugly development would attract a monumental sustained civil
disobedience from the youths until the government turns a new leaf.
Comrade Nonso Okafor lamented the gross neglect being meted out to the
youths across the nation while duty bearers pay lip service to their
welfare and call them leaders of tomorrow while working tirelessly to
destroy their today. “We will surely take active part in making
decisions that affects us now. We are tired of the political class
shaving our heads behind us.”
