The All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has called on youths in the district to shun political violence and hold politicians accountable for their records, promises and performance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Oseni made the call during an engagement meeting with residents of Ilupeju, Idi-Obi, Ayekale, Koloko, Oke-Ibadan, Oje-Aje Ita-Baale and Beyerunka communities in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State. He urged the youths to participate responsibly in the political process and resist attempts by politicians to use them to disrupt the electoral process.
The lawmaker, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), described young people as important stakeholders in the development of Oyo South, the state and the country.
He said his commitment to youth development predated his current political ambition, citing his donation of a fully equipped information and communication technology (ICT) training centre to The Polytechnic, Ibadan, about 18 years ago as one of his early interventions to equip young people with relevant skills.
Oseni also said he had supported 100 young entrepreneurs in his federal constituency with N1 million each to strengthen their businesses. According to him, 82 beneficiaries had received the money, while the remaining 18 were expected to be paid before the expiration of his tenure.
On education, the lawmaker said he had paid examination fees for 1,500 students sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and provided free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration for 2,000 candidates, some of whom, he added, had secured admission into tertiary institutions.
He also listed improvements to school infrastructure, scholarships, bursaries, the provision of work tools for artisans, financial assistance and support for employment opportunities among initiatives aimed at improving young people’s prospects.
Beyond education and entrepreneurship, Oseni said his interventions had extended to community infrastructure and support for different groups across the senatorial district. He listed the distribution of electricity transformers, provision of boreholes and solar-powered streetlights, and construction of bridges among projects undertaken to address community needs. Artisans, traders, market men and women, and religious organisations had also benefited from his support, he added.
Explaining his focus on young people, Oseni said investing in their development was essential to building a peaceful and prosperous society.
“When you build the youth, you are building the nation. All that we are trying to do is to build the youth, give them the necessary support and show them good examples they can follow,” he said.
The APC chieftain cautioned that youths could become vulnerable to manipulation during electioneering, urging them to resist recruitment into political violence. He advised them to engage candidates on their achievements, plans for their communities, commitment to good governance and capacity to provide effective representation.
Oseni expressed confidence in the growing political awareness of youths in Oyo South, saying his interactions with them had strengthened his belief that they could make informed choices and contribute to peaceful elections.
“Typically, as we approach the electioneering period, youths can be impressionable. But from what I have seen today and our engagements so far, we are confident that they will take responsibility for their actions and make the right choices,” he said.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, Oseni reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots engagement and participatory representation.
Idowu said the community-based initiative was designed to give residents the opportunity to communicate their concerns and discuss possible solutions, with issues that could be addressed immediately receiving attention while others would be pursued through sustained engagement.
He added that encouraging young people to participate responsibly in politics remained essential to maintaining peace and protecting the democratic process ahead of the 2027 elections.
