The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday, 11 August 2020, charged members of a socio-political group, Ilerioluwa Vendors, on voters’ registration and grassroots enlightenment.
He called on the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s youths wing to be alive to their responsibilities in reaching out to the young ones in their respective domains to get registered.
Governor Oyetola gave the charge while delivering his goodwill message during the official inauguration of the coordinators of Ilerioluwa Vendors across the local government areas of the State, at Ilerioluwa’s campaign office, Osogbo.
Oyetola, who described the youth as the most viable and energetic segment of the population, implored them to build a formidable vanguard for the party at the grassroots.
He urged the party’s youths to begin to register the good works of the administration in the minds of their fellow youths, just as he reminded them to be mindful of the task ahead in sustaining the nation in general and the State in particular on the path of socio-economic and political stability, growth and development.
Oyetola, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, reaffirmed the commitment of the administration to the continued empowerment of the youth and creation of an enabling environment to enable them actualise their potential.
“I am happy that this programme is coming at a time that we needed to reawaken the political consciousness of the youth to let them know that it is their civic responsibility to register their names with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and have voter’s cards.
“As we all know, the youth are the most productive, energetic and viable segment of the population. Therefore, it is incumbent on us to let them know the importance of registering their names and partaking in politics for the enhancement and advancement of good governance.
“We believe that this is the only way to go if we truly want to sustain government of the people, by the people and for the people”, Oyetola added.
In his part, the founder of the group, Mr Dayo Babaranti, said the idea was borne of the need to propagate the civic responsibilities, particularly among the young ones.
He said the group had since its formation embarked on a reach-out exercise in every nook and cranny of the state to reawake the youth’s consciousness to their responsibility, particularly on the need to be law- abiding, shun all forms of criminal acts, and above all to see the need to be agents of transformation and good governance by performing their civic responsibilities.
“The objectives of this group are to market our principal, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, and his laudable programmes, some of which are already being completed throughout the State.
“We also intend to woo the youth that have just reached voting age (18 – 21years) and guide them to register and collect voter’s cards before the next elections.
“Our goal is to complement the efforts of the leaders of the party by ensuring that every eligible citizen of the state is captured in the voter’s register. We are resolved to market the good works of the government.
“We are not competing with anyone, but rather getting people aware of their civic responsibilities.
“We have inaugurated coordinators in each of the local governments across the state, with the sole mandate of reaching out to the young ones, tutoring them and getting them registered”, he said.
The occasion had in attendance: the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Charles ‘Diji Akinola; Chairman, Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Ajibola Famurewa; the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Barrister Bukola Olaboopo; the state Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sola Oladepo; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport, Hon. Olaniyan Hussein Toke, among others.