2023: Rise up in politics now, Ondo APC chieftain Ajipe charges Nigerian youths
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the convener of Ibi-Giga Ambassadors and APC chieftain in Ondo state, Chief (Dr) Alex Ajipe, has called on youths across the states of the federation to rise up to challenges of active participation in politics in other take over leadership like the older generation who had began to rule Nigeria in their prime.
The Emure-Owo born politician and business mogul, while speaking on Saturday in Akure, the state capital when the APC Youths and Women Tasks force, paid him a visit in his office said the older generation and the youth needed one another in complementary roles, adding that young people were achieving several things they should begin to showcase.
According to him, leaders were usually confronted with huge societal problems and needed fresh ideas from the youth, who also needed mentorship of the older generation.
“Everybody has a role to play, there are things older generation cannot do and there are things younger ones cannot do. So, we need that compromise to work together,” he said.
Ajipe, who also spoke on his political background said, “some people think I started politics during this administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, but I started politics since the days of Baba Adefarati, I have been a progressive since then.
“I don’t jump from one party to the other. I was the youth coordinator for AC for the governorship election of Ademola Adegoroye campaign organization in 2007. I spent all my resources then and we did not won the election. Many people left us and followed Labour Party then, but we remained loyal to our great party till today.”
“Youths are crucial to governance because of the huge deposit of potential they have to actualise things easily. All I want to advise you to do is to be creative and innovative in whatever you engage in.
“It is by doing things differently that you can quickly make your marks in the society. Like me now, I registered my company in year 2006 and today, I can boast of having over 200 workers paying tax to the pulse of the state government.
“I facilitated the Ondo-Linyi Industrial Hub in Ore. We must also commends our Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for giving the youths chance to showcase our talents. Today over 50 percent of his appointment are youths,” he said.
Maxwell Adeyeri, the National Secretary of the group who led other executive members, however, commended the Ajipe’s giant strides achievement towards creating jobs for Ondo teeming youths in partnership with the present administration of Governor Akeredolu in order to industrialise the state.
Highlight of the programme is the conferment of Ajipe as the Patron of the group in Ondo State and award of excellence was given to him.
