City Boy Movement Tasks Nigerian Youths on Nation-Building, Peaceful Elections

The City Boy Movement has called on Nigerian youths to deploy their influence and platforms toward promoting the country, while rejecting electoral violence and other activities capable of undermining national stability.

The West Africa Director of the City Boy Movement, Olatunde Igbasan, made the call during an Independence Day walk held to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and the APC Youth Week in West Africa.

Igbasan, who also identified himself as the Director General of the APC Youth Network West Africa, urged young Nigerians to use their visibility and influence constructively rather than engage in activities that could portray the country negatively.

“We can use our platform for different things, to promote our nation, rather than to demarcate the country you have come from,” he said.

Speaking on the administration of President Bola Tinubu, Igbasan expressed support for the government and said Nigerians living abroad had observed changes under the current administration.

“We have past presidents. We have leaders that have come and gone. Nothing has changed so far. But this present president, things have really changed a lot in the diaspora for us,” he said.

He also called for continuity in government, urging youths to support Tinubu for another term so that ongoing programmes and projects could be implemented.

“I believe this is the time for us to give our president the opportunity for the second time so that what he is doing, the implementation that he is doing,” Igbasan said.

On national development, he placed particular emphasis on infrastructure, arguing that roads and other basic facilities were essential to economic growth.

“You cannot build this nation without infrastructure,” he said, citing the experiences of South Africa and China in his argument.

Igbasan further encouraged eligible young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate in the electoral process.

“The PVC has come. Go to your ward. Go and get your PVC,” he said.

He also advised voters to leave polling centres after casting their ballots rather than remain in areas where tensions could escalate.

“On the day of the election, the moment you cast your vote, please go home,” he said.

The City Boy Movement official cautioned youths against being drawn into violent demonstrations or other activities allegedly encouraged by political actors or activists.

“Those people telling you to stay there, when this riot comes, they went back to their houses. Their children are not in this country,” he said.

Rather than limiting their participation to criticism of government, Igbasan urged young Nigerians who were dissatisfied with policies to become involved in political and civic activities and contribute their skills.

“If you said the government is not doing well, come and join the party. You must belong to a society. Show your skill,” he said.

He also challenged young professionals to apply the knowledge acquired in schools to sectors capable of contributing to economic development, including transportation and mining.

“What you have learned in school, bring it on board. You have to start now,” he said.

Igbasan acknowledged that government could not meet every expectation but urged citizens to contribute to solving national challenges.

“We understand that we cannot get everything 100%. But then you don’t need to go out there and say this person is not good,” he said.

He concluded by urging continued support for the Tinubu administration.

“In as much as he is on the throne, we need to support him to finish what he is doing,” Igbasan said.

Also speaking during the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Civic Engagement, Ruth Ayomide, said the walk was designed to promote national unity, progress and prosperity while encouraging young people to participate in civic and political activities.

“We planned the walk in favour of celebrating the unity, the progress and the prosperity of the country,” she said.

Ayomide said her participation also reflected her responsibilities in civic engagement and mobilisation within Lagos State.

“As the SSA Civic Engagement, it is part of our civic responsibility in Lagos State and also as part of mobilisation,” she said.

The event formed part of activities marking Nigeria’s Independence anniversary and youth-focused civic engagement, with participants using the occasion to promote peaceful participation and national development. Current City Boy Movement materials also describe the organisation as a youth-focused platform for civic engagement and national development.