Alex Ibeh, aka Kool’, has urged young Nigerians to actively participate in the country’s electoral process rather than remaining critics on the sidelines.
Mr Ibeh, a youth ambassador for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who gave the advice on Friday in Abuja, also urged youngsters to avoid misinformation.
The musician, who spoke on the sidelines of the investitures of INEC youth ambassadors, said that youths’ active participation was critical to driving political change in Nigeria.
“You cannot clean a room thoroughly from the window; you must go inside. It is important that the youth know that they have to participate in the electoral process. You don’t have to be a politician to do so.
“It might look bleak now, but things could get better with everyone’s participation. But standing afar and criticising or complaining would not make things happen,” Mr Ibeh said.
On the issue of voter apathy and distrust, the INEC ambassador acknowledged that working with the electoral umpire could be a challenging job but added that rebuilding public confidence remained a top priority.
“INEC’s job is a thankless job, so to say. No matter how you do it, it’s going to seem like you are here or you are there. That mistrust is there, and INEC needs to do a lot of work to bring back the trust of the youth.
“This is because young people make up the largest segment of the population; they ultimately determine which direction things go in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Ibeh urged young people not to be discouraged by political cynicism or succumbing to vote-buying tactics used by politicians.
“The same people who tell you that your votes will not count are the same people who are buying your votes. So you need to be wiser and understand that you shouldn’t fall for their tricks. Whatever we want is in our hands, and we can make that change if we want,” he stated.
Responding to concerns about fake news and misinformation on social media during election cycles, Mr Ibeh advised citizens to exercise caution and independently verify facts before sharing contents online.
“We can’t stop real and fake news on social media; it’s a worldwide issue. When it comes to your country or anything important to you, it’s vital that you verify whatever information you get. Don’t just swallow whatever you hear or whatever is trending as popular opinion. It is important for you to do your own research,” Mr Ibeh stated.
He pledged to leverage his platform, social media presence and direct community engagements to promote voter education and carry messages of hope to Nigerian youths nationwide.
“It doesn’t have to be only when you’re on social media, when you meet people in conversations; everything drives home the point that, look, whatever we want is in our hands. We can make that change if we want,’’ he said.
Mr Ibeh also pledged to be the link between INEC and the people, especially the youth, by bringing the concerns of the people to the commission, and the concerns of the people about making their vote count to INEC.
(NAN)