Asaba
Youths in the country have been charged to participate in the forthcoming 2023 general elections for them to have a stake in the next political dispensation.
The State Governor and Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples' Democratic People (PDP), Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, gave the charge in Asaba during the 2022 National Youth Day Celebration organized by the Green Assembly Initiative at the Event Center, Asaba.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, stated that the youths were the strength of the nation and the future of the country lied in their hands.
He said his administration had given a lot of opportunities to the youths in the state through appointments into political offices, various skills acquisition and empowerment programmes set up by the government for them to be financially independent.
Senator Okowa called on the youths in the country to vote the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and himself in the forthcoming general elections as they have all it takes to deliver the nation from the various challenges facing the country.
In his remarks, the Presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, represented by Mr. Olajide Adeniyi, stated that the youths should vote for an effective leader who has their interests at heart.
He assured that if elected as the President, he would ensure that the youths form a major part of his administration.
Earlier, the National Coordinator, Green Assembly Initiative, Comrade Duke Alamboye, stated that youths in the country have been relegated to the background for a long time and it was time for their voices to be heard.
He said this can only be achieved through the establishment of a Youth Commission which will solely handle issues that concern the youths.
The Chairman of the event and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the PDP, Senator Adolphus Wabara, commended the leadership of the Green Assembly Initiative for organizing the event.
He said they have been able to use their organisation to sensitize Nigerian youths on the need to vote credible leaders that will address the challenges currently facing the youths in the country.
The Green Assembly Initiative 2022 National Youth Day Celebration had as its theme "Youths Utilizing The Power To Seek Effective Leadership".
In another development, Delta State Government has pledged to assist the Army Headquarters Team on Recruitment into the Nigerian Army to sensitize Deltans on the need for 84 regular recruit intake for trades and non tradesmen and women into the Nigerian Army.
The state Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, made the pledge in Asaba when the Army Headquarters Team on Recruitment visited him.
Governor Okowa, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chief Patrick Ukah, stated that they were many vibrant and strong Deltans who could serve in the army adding that it would be a thing of joy to see many Deltans serving the nation.
He said the state government would try as much as possible to use the Ministry of Youths Development to carryout one on one talk with the youths on the importance of the Army recruitment.
The Governor said he had directed that a stakeholders meeting be put up for top officers to talk to the youths assuring that there would be a positive change in the next recruitment exercise.
Governor Okowa thanked the Chief of Army Staff for sending the delegation saying it would be taken seriously.
Earlier, the leader of the team, Major General Mohammed Jalo, said they were in Asaba to intimate the state government of the recruitment exercise, saying it was a constitutional responsibility for every state to have its quota in the recruitment exercise.
Major General Jalo said the Army Headquarters observed some abnormalities in the exercise as there was low turn of the people in some states including Delta.
He said the recruitment exercise, which is always free, was conducted yearly and encouraged the state government to carryout the sensitization campaign from where they stopped, adding that the portal for the recruitment was opened on the 10th of October and would be closed on the 2nd December.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was presented with a souvenir by the leader of the team.
