By Sabiu Abdullahi
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerian youths to take an active part in the 2027 general elections, saying the outcome will have far-reaching consequences for their future.
The President made the appeal on Saturday while addressing supporters at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Rivers State.
Tinubu told young Nigerians that they had an important role to play in determining the country’s direction through their participation in the electoral process.
“To the youth of Nigeria, I’m looking at you. This election is about you. It’s not about me. Your future depends on this election,” he said.
He also urged registered voters who had yet to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to visit designated collection centres and obtain them ahead of the election.
The President described the PVC as a vital tool through which citizens could influence the choice of their leaders and appealed to young people not to waste the opportunity to vote.
“It is left for you to use the weapon you have. And that weapon is the PVC. If you have not collected yours, please go ahead and collect it. Please. I beg you. I take God beg you,” Tinubu said.
The President also defended his administration’s economic policies, arguing that economic growth and the equitable distribution of prosperity were necessary to improve Nigerians’ living conditions, especially those of young people.
He said his government was working to settle financial obligations inherited from previous administrations, including outstanding pensions and gratuities owed to retirees.
According to Tinubu, the unpaid liabilities had accumulated to billions and trillions of naira before his administration took office, but efforts were underway to clear them.
“The people that governed before, they left unpaid pensions and gratuity in billions and trillions of naira. That is being cleared. So that every family is included. We are sharing prosperity already,” he said.
Tinubu said the payments formed part of his administration’s wider efforts to ensure that Nigerian families benefited from government policies and economic opportunities.
