C’River youth should participate in the electoral process …Andrew Thomas urges

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Youths who are indigenous to and resident in Cross River have been tasked to participate in the electoral process in the state in view of the forthcoming general elections billed for 2023 across Nigeria NEGROIDHAVEN can report.

Andrew Thomas made the call during an virtual meeting/conference organised by Youth Alliance for Cross River Voters which held on Tuesday via Zoom themed ‘Preparing the youths for the task ahead: an insight into choosing the right person’.

Thomas who observed that though not everyone in society can run for an elective public office said at least there should be participation especially as opinion shapers. While informing that in the Gambia young persons elected the incumbent president, Andrew said in a similar vein, Cross River youths can elect their governor.

Thomas outlined further avenues for political participation to include, getting a voter’s card, and mass mobilisation etc.

His words, ‘Young persons in Cross River should get involved in the process not necessarily as candidate but as opinion moulders. Everybody cannot run for office, the least what we can do is to participate in the process, young people should come out and lend their voice through the process legitimately.

‘In the Gambia, young people elected the president. In Cross River, young persons can elect the governor.

‘You should vote for a candidate that looks like you, any candidate that can commit to what they want to do. It is not enough to tell us you want to run, tell us how you want to do it

‘Begin by getting their voters cards, mobilise your friends and enemies to get their voters cards… even though the process is not perfect, it is not enough to say that it will not change, so I won’t get involved’.

While cautioning against votes buying and votes selling during elections, Thomas cautioned accordingly, ‘This is my suggestion, any politician who shows up to buy your votes, calculate the using the minimum wage of N30,000 for four years which amounts to about N900,000; ask the politician to pay you upfront if they can afford it.’