By Chesa Chesa
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on Nigerian youths to take a leading role in safeguarding and strengthening the country’s democracy.
Yilwatda said young Nigerians, especially those within the 25 to 55 age bracket, must take ownership of the democratic process and resist attempts by what he described as self-serving political actors seeking to derail the nation’s progress.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, the APC chairman said Nigeria’s democracy was at a defining moment and required the energy, innovation and patriotism of the youth to sustain it.
He warned against politicians who, according to him, offer no credible alternatives to past challenges but are bent on misleading citizens and truncating gains already being recorded under the current administration.
Yilwatda said the APC remained a youth-driven political movement, noting that over 50 per cent of its membership consists of young men and women.
He described his emergence as national chairman as a historic milestone for the party, saying it demonstrated APC’s commitment to inclusion, generational renewal and youth leadership.
According to him, entrusting younger leaders with key responsibilities reflects confidence in their capacity, vision and dynamism to drive reforms and protect democratic values.
The APC chairman also cautioned Nigerians against allowing individuals pursuing personal presidential ambitions to determine the country’s future, warning that such a move could reverse hard-earned progress and return the nation to uncertainty.
He acknowledged that ongoing reforms introduced by Bola Ahmed Tinubu had come with difficult adjustments, but insisted they were necessary foundations for long-term prosperity.
Yilwatda said early indicators showed the reforms were already repositioning Nigeria for sustainable growth, fiscal stability and global competitiveness.
He added that the administration’s economic and structural reforms had received commendation from institutions such as the World Bank and other global stakeholders, boosting confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction.
He further noted that renewed investor interest was being recorded in sectors including energy, infrastructure, technology and manufacturing.
“Investor confidence is gradually being restored. From renewed commitments in the oil and gas sector to growing interest in Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure space, the signs are clear that the country is on a path to recovery and growth,” he said.
