The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has called on youths to mobilise and take their chance at political leadership in 2023.
The former senate president said it was wrong for the youth to ask for a power shift, noting that power is not given on a platter of gold.
He gave the advice when a delegation of Benue youths, under the auspices of Benue Transition Mentees (BTM) visited him in Abuja.
He said youths must compete against older and more experienced politicians in order to wrestle power instead of begging for it.
He said: ” When youths say, ‘Give us a chance,’ I tell them, ‘Chance is not always a gift. Power is never given on a platter or in a parcel.’ So, mobilise and take your chance as we march to 2023.
“We often hear that youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but that is not automatic. The future really belongs to youths who follow their passions, who prepare themselves and who go after what they want.
“There are youths who are doing drugs, who are into all sorts of vices like kidnapping, prostitution, what they call Yahoo-yahoo. Some make up the battalions in the banditry ravaging the country. The future does not belong to these.
“Organise yourselves, mobilise your large constituency and go for what you want, including public office. There is no Father Christmas in politics.
“Sometimes, young people forget that many of us started out on this route as young men too. I became a graduate at 23, got my PhD at 31, was a senior lecturer at 37 and was elected to the Senate at 39 where my colleagues made me Senate President at 40. I can say that for others too,” he said.
