 And most of you are sitting down and you've not got to your PVC and certain people that know that they don't have what it takes based off of integrity, based off of fear and fear elections, they are conniving and they are planning everything they can to take this country away, they are planning everything they can to make sure that they are doing this election and you that have been sitting down, you have not got to your PVC, get down from that place and get your PVC. Have you not suffered enough? Can't you see what is going on around you? It is not in my place to point and give a name of somebody you have to vote for, but these are three things you look out for if you are voting for somebody in this country. The three things, the first one is competent if this person competent enough to lead the nation because he have what it takes, is he efficient to take on this country? The second one is capacity because he have the capacity to take on this country. The third one is the most important and the most crucial character, it is a character that you see integrity, it is a character that you see no corruption, it is a character that you have empathy. Record on the ground shows that the election will be dominated by the Nigerian youth. Yakubu who said he was encouraged by the turnout of registered voters to collect their PVC said over 600,000 eligible voters collected their PVC in Lagos alone within the last one month. The INEC boss also stated that there are currently 93.4 million registered voters in Nigeria out of which 37 million that is 39% are young people between the ages of 18 and 34. So out of that 93.4 million, 70.4 million registered voters are between the ages of 18 to 49. So Yakubu stated this, now what does this mean for the upcoming election and do you think that the youth truly have the power to install the next president of Nigeria? Now please let's hear what you have to say, remember you can join the conversation, send us an SMS or WhatsApp to 08-1803-4663, you can also tweet at us at Weishu Africa one with the hashtag Weishu. Alright so this conversation is quite interesting, I like that William Tsuchimba's video because he said get up! I was almost standing up for my chair to go and collect another PVC that I've already collected. Well hey, there is a lot of movement happening on social media, there's a lot of sensitization happening. The Nigerian youth they've never been this, yes they've never shown this vested interest about these particular elections. And it's no brainer why because of what we've been through in the last eight years. But now when we're talking about installation of the next president of Nigeria, do you think the Nigerian youth, because I know that Uti will not have the same opinion as you. But let me save her opinion for, let me hear your thoughts. And if you think it is possible for the Nigerian youth to install the next president, why do you think so? And let me hear you and I'll hear Glory. Okay in my own opinion I think this is a silly question because from the data I was going to quote that same data. If you're telling me that 40% of the people who have registered as voters are youth between the ages of 18 and 34 now, not even 18 and 49 because if you now go for that 18 and 49 you're not looking at votes about maybe 60%. So definitely the youth has the power to change or rather to vote in a new president right. And if we have for that almost half of 100, I don't think that there's so much more to say again if 40% of the people are youth and then they can actually exercise this power. Now the question is, I hope that these people that have even registered and then picked up their PVCs maybe would actually go out on that day to now exercise the power of voting. But then if we actually put in because there's a strong demographic, so if we actually put in this work. Yeah I think it's possible for the youth to actually change power. How are you Glory? I'm fine. I don't think I know that Nigerian youths have the power to install the next president. Statistics already show it. Like if we are not assuming the figures are there to say it, then it's also about the intentionality right. The drive, the passion, people really want change. I watched a video I think two days ago right on Waze where you found a young man sitting saying he's been sitting for two hours. So this is different. This era is different. The youth are more enlightened. They are really really participating in the political process and everything going on. And you cannot compare. You know some time back some people say we're standing for us trying to vote. People don't have that time. No, people are willing to sit down for five hours now. That's the current state we are now. You know, me personally I've never been so intentional about politics or about voting as I am now. I'm aware that my future lies in this as well as many other youth outside. So if it's this is this is not just a question. This is a fact right. Maybe if I may paraphrase it maybe you're trying to say that all these things is it social media or are they really intentional. Are they going to come out that they truly the system is really trying to frustrate people's efforts. You know you're going to say I was speaking to someone today and said there are people that have not collected. So they will go there. They will say it's not available. They will go again and find people going, going and going. This was not how it was. So people are really intentional. Not people. Their youths are really intentional. They want this change and they want it so badly. So yes the youth we have and let me tell you something like we are no longer going to be cajoled or deceived to say our vote does not count. Let us vote first. We will vote. We will stand there for us right. So many things are coming up videos trying to dissuade us trying to distract us to say this and that. We are not getting distracted over. This is this twenty twenty three election is for the youths right. Since during ensass the youths now know the power they have right. They know we have a voice and that's why I see most of the old the older ones the older generation then they know this thing. So they know we've realized it right and so they are now bringing other political tactics and jargon to distract us. They are not getting distracted. Let me tell you right. Mind you are youths. It's not a question. We have the ability to put someone on that seat and guess what if that person messes up we still have the power to remove the person. The power belongs to the youths. This is twenty twenty three over. Thank you very much. Okay. I like the three words you used. You said intentionality. You said drive. You said passion. But I'm thinking in my head. Intentionality, intentionality. But let me hear Uti's thought before you come back to what I'm thinking in my head. Uti, your thoughts on this. Do you think the youth have the power to install the next president in Nigeria? This you have put the word in my mouth that I'm ready to have a different opinion. I don't like to answer questions in the absence of context. When you ask a black and white question that has to work and then you can install. Uti, while losing your audio, sugar. Uti, can we try one more time and see? Yes, we can hear you now. I don't like to answer a question outside of context. Nobody disagrees with the statistics that Nigeria is a largely useful population. Nobody disagrees with the statistics that the Ainaikirana has come out to say. But where I say that context is missing is that even though you have a PBC, which is why when I see videos like William this video that we just played, I get a little bit frustrated. I first of all love this journey that we're on, that more and more people are passionate about their current circumstances. And we won't change. But I want to take us back to 2015, where the mantra was that we were going to get change. If you all remember, in 2015, it was APC change current. And everybody was excited for change. Everybody wanted change. And you at that point, if we went back to 2015 without the crystal ball that we now have eight years later. We were all rejoicing and happy at the time that we had gotten change. That the youth will install a president. What is it that you are really looking for in the next president? And how do you get it? That last comment there about if we put a president in position, we don't like the president. In four years, very powerful statement. But if you consistently make the same mistakes over and over again, you will consistently get the same results. So we're going in the right direction. But if you look at it contextually, we should be asking a different question. And that question would be what? So the question is not about whether we can install a president. The question is whether we understand what it takes to pick the right president. So he has so in one sense said character competence capacity. On what basis is the average 20 year old or 21 year old making that decision? What information and what knowledge do you have? So while somebody is yelling at you with all passion to say, go and get your PVC. Do you understand the impact of your choice? Do you understand what it takes to run a country? Do you understand that one person does not make the change that you're looking for? Do you understand that this change is a process? So whilst I see people tweet on Twitter that the minute we get this person as president in five months in Nigeria would have changed. It tells me that we have a knowledge problem and that knowledge problem is more dangerous. Because when you get to the ballot box, when you get there to vote, you only have a limited number of choices to choose from. The bigger problem is that you can't write a name on that paper. So what you do is you take the choices that you have and you pick the best of the worst. So we need to go beyond this passion for just the PVC and get passionate about actually changing Nigeria's fortunes and understanding that we each have a role to play. The card that everybody is shouting about now is to get your PVC card. Nobody is talking about going to join a political party. The party that everybody is pulling for the candidate. How many people have gone to join that party? How many people are interested in the actual future beyond the play of the election? How many people have stopped to think that when this person is finally chosen, how are they going to run the country? So these are the questions that for me, let's not get so focused on just the today. Because if you don't get it right today and you say, oh yes, I can change in four years. A lot of damage can be done in four years. So this passion and part that we're using behind get your PVC because let's change the narrative. And let's get young people involved. Everybody saying you can't pick your future. How about you say that you are the future? How about we say you are the future? So let's look at the statistics that matter. How many people have joined political parties? I keep trying to reiterate this that the ballot still has 18 people or however many parties that we have. You can't write a name on there. Now do you have it saying how that name got there? No. So every time the real choice has been made for you, then somebody is telling you that your PVC is the problem. How many PVCs were in circulation at the last election? How many people actually used them and voted? Absolutely. So that's why I said that it's important for us to ask the right questions and not just play to the gallery to say this is what every change can be good or bad. I remember when we were shouting change in 2015, change change in 2015, who could have told you that the people who were passionate enough to go out and vote then because they believed in the change narrative would believe that Nigeria would be where it is today eight years later. And somehow we're about to, instead of learning from our mistakes, we're still going down the same path and hoping for a different result. I don't see how. All I see is that we are guaranteeing that either, if maybe there's some miracle, because miracles can happen, or we're going to get the very same result. Okay. So I want to, I want to butt in here for a bit, Uti, because I'd like to ask a question based on what William Tsuchemba said, which is what I hear come on around the Nigerian youth, right? When he was talking about what to look out for, Uti, you were spot on when you talk about political parties. I mean, we've said this thing several times. We've said it that it is not at the ballot that decisions are made for good leadership. It is at the political, what's it called, the local government level, your council, all those places where you're supposed to be part of a political structure that eventually selects the people that go on to the ballot. So you are very spot on when you talk about us changing that narrative and moving it towards people going actually to register in a political party. That is spot on. However, this is where we have gotten to right now. The young people are not in political parties that much. But what we are faced with are three choices, which is what we always do every four years for an election. We always wait till the time where, at the point of choice, which is why what you're saying, put it in context, makes a lot of sense that we also should be part of the people changing that narrative that is not the PVC per se. It is the decision to elect the people that eventually make it to the ballot. That is where the real power lies, which is where those people, all the delegates and all of them, you see them exercising their muscle because at the ballot is already too late because they've already decided who they wanted to decide. That's it. So, I mean, why do we have, for instance, the Labour Party candidate, Peter will be moving to a Labour Party. It was because at the level of decision making where he was supposed to be selected, even though he seemed, he had all the credibility and everything, he wasn't selected as the flag bearer of the party. So he had to move to a different, so what you're saying is spot on. But we are where we are now, right? And the elections are in 37 days. We need to also now sit back and say, okay, what do we even look out for these options that they have thrown at us? Right? The point that I'm trying to make, right, is that the time at which this conversation is on the front burner, the time when people are really listening, is now. So it is important that we are giving the right messaging to people because if we take what has happened historically, the minute the President is elected, everybody is going to go back into their homes. Whatever happens, we will accept the outcome until the next four years. So whilst people are listening, it's important that we use the opportunity to broaden the conversation. So Mike Williams is putting out this kind of video. It's great, but don't stop there. Get the young people to really realise where their power is. Their power is not on the election day, unless they have the numbers. But that you make the right choice on that day. You can't tell the future. Just in the same way we've had politicians and people in the past offer everything and sound right before election day. Then after election day, we have the same disappointment. So Mike Williams is simply the fact that when you have people's attention. That is where you should drive home the message. Absolutely. The very first thing is going on. Yes, it's yielding fruit. But we need to expand it. If not, we will lose the opportunity to catch people. Because people take action when they are angry. People take action when they are frustrated. Which is why I use that example. Whilst everybody is being a particular candidate, please look at the activity in that party. What has the actual membership grown by? It's a very important art. Because it's not a singular activity. It's a group, it's a collective. And we must get people to understand that. It's more important than this actual let's win today. Absolutely. Let's take a very short break. We want to open our phone lines. I really love to hear what you're saying. Because what Uti has said makes sense. Now everybody is listening. So let us stay with us. We'll be right back. Alright, thanks for staying with us now. If you just tuned in, it's Ladies Night Out and we're discussing the topic. Please, let's hear what you have to say. Remember, you can join the conversation. Send us an SMS or WhatsApp to the rate 1. 8034663. You can also tweet at us at Weishu Africa with the hashtag Weishu. Now, the phone line is now open. Remember the rules, turn off the volume of whatever device you're watching us from. The number to call is 07025007749. That's the number to call. I like Mary and Chinelo to button. Because Uti raised the very valid points that how many, how much membership has Labour Party, for instance. Because that's the party for the youth, right? How much has their membership grown from the time of the ascending of Peter Obi, for instance, as the flag bearer to now? Because that is where the real number lies. And if you want to go back to our question, which is, do the youth have the power to install the precedent? Hearing Uti and saying to us that let's broaden the conversation. But not at the polling unit. Not with our PVC. We have the powers if we can then infiltrate political parties and then go there to then get the numbers to then decide who eventually will be the back. So imagine if this number of youth are in all three major political parties. What happens? We will pick all the right people from each party. So let the best man win. So we are no longer picking between the devil and the diplomacy. We are picking three competent people and the way it is still rose with the flow. If I hear Uti correctly, I think that's what she is trying to say. But let me hear your thoughts. Okay, so I think that we are on a very good path so far. And this is my reason. 2015, how many people, how many times do we hear about a liberal party? Not a lot, right? But then Peter Obi came, whatever happened with his previous party, and then he then decamped and then joined APC and then brought some form of our OS to what's the call, to liberal party, right? So we are on a very good path. Also if you look at it in 2015 as well, we had about 70 something political parties on the ballot paper to vote for. Now we have just 18. Now that means that it actually reduced to like the most important. Would I call them the most important but yeah the most relevant party. Serious-minded people to vote for. We don't now have these parties that you can't even tell already. You know, just came up from. So I think that we are not there yet. We are making good progress, I must say, in terms of politics. Because the youth have woken up. So yes, we might not be. I will tell you what it is saying. We might not be at that position where we have it all figured out, okay, maybe we used to have 20,000 people in liberal party before and now there are 70,000 people and numbers like that. But I would say from my own research, in fact I saw a video where that man who had a mother, they found it to me. There is a video he has on Twitter where he was talking about how liberal party has actually grown so far. I want to put politics in future. I will not join a party like that, right? Because I know that there is some form of progress, there is some form of growth which is not very visible right now. But when I say, I must say, if we continue like very rightly said, if we continue with this same intentionality that we have right now, trust me, we are in 2027. We won't be talking about this anymore. Okay, let me take, I think I believe you have a caller from Abuja, I think. Hi, you're live. Hello, are you there? Yes, I'm there. Go ahead. Hi, good evening. Thank you. We are asking whether the youth have power to lessen the hope of the residents. This time around, the policies from the past leaders have been there. What we see there is a worry with something because it's not going to work and that it will stop the insecurity in the country. But what we, so people are not talking about hope, I don't know whether we can also hope or believe because to me all these policies have been there and they have been always failure. So we are in a serious dilemma. Thank you. I know very well that don't need to build a building and don't see its performance anyway. And the fact that the other candidate are not popular because they are, they cannot perform better than the people who are to be. Thank you so much. We are in a serious dilemma. That is the thing, you know. Thank you. We are in a serious dilemma. Let me hear your thoughts. I'll make reference to the last thing you responded to Utsi saying this is where we are now. We are at a place where we have three candidates and we have to make a choice, right? So we are trying to solve why thinking for the future. Where are we now? How do we handle this course? Yes, solve the problem. Do you understand? I've been having conversation whether you like it or not, right? You find people talking about politics. You have no choice than to listen and you still find some youths not being confident thinking like they still have this mentality that oh, they will see elect, they will still choose those they want to choose, you know. There is still a rigging of elections so people still have that mentality and that's the reason why conversations like this is very important. It's sort of an empowerment for the youth to know that you guys are in the right direction, right? And to know that you have a voice and if you are united and you have one voice, right? It will count for something. So that's the angle where I'm coming from to say that yes, we know the system currently brings makes these choices and we have to make the fight just like choosing among what the system has brought for us but that's where we are now. So, let's let's do what we have now. Okay, let me do what we have now. We have someone from Abuja as well. Hi, you're live. Uti, sorry I'll come to you Uti. Let me take a beti from Abuja. Go ahead please. Okay, good evening. Good evening. Yes, my name is Uti from Abuja. Go ahead. Uti from Abuja because he's from 31 and if you, if you if you look at the way we are going on now from your from the perspective we are looking at the youth are actually ready to put up power even if it doesn't happen in the 323 it hasn't been so clear that the angelic purpose that the youth are actually ready the thing is that this all the class are taking the youth back for so long and it is right time the youth to put up the right means this governance because if you see the youth are being born by their header or the header it is frustrating we have an angelic and then it is made in class of youth that are copying to the youth countries perfectly without any progress that if you look at the way we are again that is why the youth are being taken back that if people are if the youth are really serious they can take up this power to the youth. Thank you so much. because if you see the class of the older the older from those in the day now who among them that you think that can fit into to take us to the next level it is a big which the youth are following there now Thank you so much Abhichi so let's try to keep our conversations within a minute so we can have more people calling Uti you are going to interrupt or interject while what's it called Glory was talking you want to come in here okay so so what I was trying to say that again it's dangerous when we say that people are having conversations don't forget that the conversations are happening now if you don't have the right context to those conversations bad information still spreads and that is just dangerous so it's great that these conversations are happening that you say wherever you go people are talking about politics but people need to talk about the right things or even though because it's not just it's about the outcome right what are you looking for what is the outcome that you're looking for so yes people are talking but it's just like we've all been taught by a teacher that doesn't know what they are teaching then we don't feel the exam who do we blame this is what I mean so it's great that conversations are happening and that's what I keep hearing and that's why I say that narrative is dangerous because we keep saying oh it's good that people are talking it's good that people are passionate it's a passionate that we want or we want change or we want a result so that's that's why I said that when people are listening please let's make sure that we are listening right I get you I mean I get you so it's not enough for us to just be having the conversation is that we are so I think where I hear Uti you know speaking I'm just thinking strategy because you see do you have the power to install the next president yes you have the power but you have the strategy to do that the answer is no because we are not really there yet pro-activism is different from being reactive what we see now with the youth is a reaction to a pain a reaction to something so when Uti is saying join the political party it is you being actually very proactive saying that you know what before we even get to where the point where we will be reacting to anything let me just go 10 steps ahead and go and wait for them in front which is the strategy that we do not have but I think we have a caller hello you are live Austin good evening hi good evening happy new year to you yes so happy new year okay so right to say Labour Party is a party for the youth specifically because it is black bearer it is over 65 now it is 61 it is over it is over a youth you look at the other political parties you have a lot of youth there if you look at PDP and the EVPT you have so many youths who are in those parties the other two political parties PDP and the EVPT you see then you see then gravitation towards the Labour Party thank you sir we should not call the Labour Party as the party for the youth thank you so I think when we say Labour Party is the party for the youth it is not particularly about the candidate it is more that the majority of young people are tilting towards a Labour Party based on the candidate we have not said Peter will be the youth before they will they will call and quote us but hey we are trying to wrap up the conversation but Uti I think I hear your conversation and I hear you clearly but I wanted to touch a little bit on what William said that yes okay right now we actually do have not three we have four very good because I've listened to the presidential candidate what am I saying even five I've listened to the presidential candidate of YPP I think AMPP that's them and the guy is brilliant the guy has done so much in impacting young people based on the what's it called scholarship that he does for education right you know so but I think we have Loma from Abia okay so we lost the call so I'm saying to you that based on what William's chamber was saying about okay let us spread all the cards on our table can we vote based on XYZ is it possible for us to truly pick the right candidates basing off of the three seas he talked about character competence you know and you know I mean if you go by that seas I was saying Brian Tracy is the owner of these seas there are so many seas that makes for success character, competence, confidence, compassion common sense right curiosity, collaboration, courtesy, courage, calm creativity, consideration consistency, commitment how many of those leaders can we point to to say these are the seas and we can see them in them but I think we have Loma his back please keep it within a minute go ahead hi good evening oh shoot you have to call back Loma your line is moppled up you have to call back we have to call back we have to call that so based on those seas that are ruled out right Uti let me come back to you Jenes that do you think it's possible that if we want to say okay yes we already have these cards this is the choice that we have right now we can't throw the baby on the bath water this is what we have you know is it possible that if we truly look deep into what he was saying like the message around the seas can we truly find the right person emerge well we hope so that's what I would say we hope so but what I still say is on what basis are you making the decisions right it's on the basis of what you've been told so how many people are close enough to the camps of any of these candidates to really say that they know the character of the man you know the character that has been presented to you in the media you know the competency that has been presented you know the capacity so it is still a shot in the dark when you have chosen which is why everybody say vote your conscience don't collect money at least if you make the decision yourself and you say bad decision you can host yourself accountable you can't say somebody made you do it but it is and that is with anything where campaigning is involved I paint a picture I come and promise you the world whether you will get it on the other end of it we don't have a history of it so we can't say that we have any historical data to show us that if you look for A, B, C, D E will pop out we don't have so what you have right now even the PTOBs the core councils it is what media has told you it is what people have told you it is do you know how things it is just like we say when you are on the internet be careful when you are on social media be careful how do you know what is true is true right it is collective of people come together today and decide something is true and start to spread it you will believe it because you have no other way to validate it unless you have somebody in the circle that said I know the day these 50 people made a decision then they have a bigger task of even trying to convince you that those 50 people came together in in dark rooms somewhere and decided that this was the truth absolutely so it is a bit of a crap we don't have enough we haven't had success in that space to say that there is a formula which why I say that in truth devote your conscience you can do as much as you can to gather information and try and make an informed decision for yourself but don't let your decision be influenced by today's money or a bribe or an incentive that's all I can say absolutely but if you have enough to say you can make a form of it and then tomorrow you won't be disappointed I'm not good you know it's so interesting I was going to say that as we are right now in all honesty voting your conscience is the best remedy because when you vote your conscience you can slap yourself if you vote the wrong person you know let's quickly take comments majority of the youth supporting Labour Party are the elite and urban majority of them in Lagos the old people of today were the youth of yesterday that's what this person has said this person says yes the youth are having power to do it but it may not be automatic now I would like to suggest that picture of contestants be soon oh sorry about this maybe they should add the ballot paper thanks because again there has been some propaganda and all of that so this person should be pictures on ballot paper so you know who it is that you are voting well that one is a communication problem but I am voting your comments okay give me one second so it says good evening my beautiful sisters of ways so I take you that this is from Daniel Illum so it says good evening my beautiful sisters of what are you saying hashtag ways do the youth have the power to install the next president the answer is yes but on one condition the condition is that the youths want to change and someone to create that change but with the desperation of the people that are contesting for an office is where the main problem is in a nutshell nobody has respect and regard for the people nobody has respect and regard for people that are coming out for presidency and are desperate and cannot deliver only one is honest and sincere to deliver let us be very careful my own dear beautiful sister oh thank you so much Daniel okay so someone says the passion of youth are proof of that it's a both strategy are behind the score what I was going to add to what they are saying you know when Uti was talking about the narrative you've heard the narrative you've heard these people in politics today they have been building the narrative for 20 years 16 years 25 years they've been building a specific narrative so it's even difficult for you to identify the truth because guess what politics is a long game politics is not a game that as you have said for four years so that's why the structure the strategy is what we need do you have the power do you have the numbers yes but strategically you're not ready you're not ready because you do not understand that this is a game that has been say they decided the presidency 20 years ago who is going to be installed as president that's why some people can make some statements yes with the approaches from the confidence they can say that so I mean if you understand this you don't understand that okay we're in this for the long run and what I'm saying this specifically is that a lot of youth are saying that if Peter Orbe does not become president they're going to leave Nigeria blah blah blah it means you're not ready if you understand the game you will know that this is not a game of four years I'm agitated and I don't get a leader no we need to be you that tenacity you need to stay power you need to keep the fire burning regardless of whether an election is coming in 37 days or not so you have to know this is a long game I am ready to wait it out 50 years down the line and they would install the right person for Nigeria so we have to be ready for that and I hope we are on that note I have said my piece we should be optimistic like I said optimism does not give you precedence that is you right most of us are on the right path if we continue this way in another eight years trust me this is the other kind of energy we need we just need to sustain it and like you said be strategic so that sustenance is the word I'm looking for we don't have that sustainability so hope God we help us so let's hope let's see after the election we know that we have the sustainable capacity we have the capacity to sustain thank you Uti thank you Glory thank you Chinelo we had a fantastic conversation now before we go and show you follow us on all our social media handles that way to Africa you can interact with us further drop a comment and more importantly follow all our engagements on social media like share invite your families and friends to watch and follow the conversation so if you missed our quote for the day here it is again if you have come to help me we are wasting your time but if you have come because your liberation is bound up in mind we can work together I will see you guys 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