TheCable

Akinjide Osuntokun, an emeritus professor of history and international relations, has urged Nigerian youth to participate actively in politics and the electoral process.

Speaking during the book reading of Aisha Osori’s ‘Love Does Not Win Elections’ organised by the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, (ISGPP), Osuntokun said no amount of cyber presence can help youth win elections.

He advised the youth to form parties that are ideologically focused and relevant to changing the ineffectiveness of governance in Nigeria.

“Young people should think of forming ideological parties that would bring the desired change. They should also understand that no amount of cyber presence, posts, tweets can win them elections,” Osuntokun said.

He said there is need to have a discussion on Nigeria population so as to have a census which would give the correct population of Nigerian citizens and electorate.

he said no one knows the accurate figure of the population of Nigeria, “which is being beefed up by migrants from neighbouring countries including, Niger, Cameroon, Benin Republic and others”.

The book, ‘Love Does Not Win Elections’, chronicles the experiences of Aisha Osori, in her quest to secure the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket to contest an election.

It details the build up to her conceiving and kick-starting her grassroots mobilisation for the ticket; her experience with political patrons, the question of indigeneity as regards her candidature, her efforts as an aspirant, the politics of delegates, the gender dimension of her campaign, and the intrigues that took place before during and after the party’s primary elections.