Daily Independent Online.
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Friday,July 16, 2004.
Lawmaker stresses need
for youths’ involvement in politics
By Habib Aruna
Assistant
Political Editor, Lagos
A
member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr. Lanre Odesanya, has stressed
the need for youths in the country to show more interest in politics because
this will, according to him, enhance the development of a robust political
culture in Nigeria.
Odesanya
made this observation on Wednesday at the State Assembly Complex, Alausa,
Lagos, while receiving a delegation of the National Executive Committee of the
Ikorodu Students Association. He said the nation’s democratic process
would be the ultimate beneficiary if the youth do not remain on the sideline.
“It
is gratifying to note that the youth have not folded their hands to the
political development of the country”, says Odesanya who is also the
chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights and Public Petitions.
While
welcoming the student leaders, Odesanya said the visit was in the spirit of
collectivism and in fulfilment of the electoral mandate he received from the
people of Ikorodu as their representative at the state’s lawmaking body.
“It is also a dutiful response to all those who elected me into
office”, he added.
Speaking
on his stewardship in the House in the past one year, Odesanya said it had been
a worthy experience, adding that the house was committed to the challenges the
people of the state are facing.
“I
reasonably believe that any objective observer will give kudos to the Lagos
House of Assembly. We have responded adequately anytime the Federal Government
assaults the constitution. I believe with consistency and steadfastness, the
state will surely excel”, said the lawmaker.
Odesanya
told the visiting students that he is currently liaising with some
non-governmental organisations in the country and abroad to initiate activities
that would actively engage the youth in the area, adding that the youth in the
district should expect a lot of goodies very soon.
He
said part of his efforts to make sure the constituency is not left out in the
scheme of things is the fight for the location of a branch office of the Office
of the Public Defender, which, according to him, will soon be opened in the
town.
Earlier
in his remarks, the President of the association, Fasanya Kabiru, said they
came to show solidarity and recognition for the wonderful job the lawmaker has
been doing in the past months. He said the main objective of their coming was
to update the lawmaker with their activities and to find out what he has been
doing for the people of the constituency.
