Yilwatda Urges Youths to Safeguard Nigeria’s Democracy Amid Reforms

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has called on Nigerian youths to take a more active role in defending the country’s democratic system, describing them as central to its survival and future stability.

Yilwatda made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, where he stressed the need for young Nigerians to resist attempts by political actors to undermine ongoing reforms and mislead the public.

He said the country was at a critical point in its democratic journey, urging youths, particularly those within the 25 to 55 age bracket to assume responsibility for protecting democratic institutions and processes.

“Nigeria’s democracy is at a defining moment. The responsibility to defend and consolidate it rests heavily on our youths, who possess the energy, innovation, and patriotic zeal required to move the nation forward,” he said.

Yilwatda warned against what he described as growing efforts by certain political interests to advance personal ambitions at the expense of national progress, cautioning that such actions could derail reforms already underway.

“We must not allow individuals who offer no credible alternatives to past challenges to mislead the people or truncate the gains already being recorded,” he added.

The APC chairman noted that the ruling party has deliberately positioned itself as a youth-inclusive platform, with over half of its membership made up of young Nigerians. According to him, this reflects a conscious effort to promote generational renewal and empower emerging leaders within the political space.

He described his emergence as national chairman as a milestone for the party, saying it demonstrates confidence in the capacity of younger Nigerians to lead and shape governance.

By entrusting its leadership to a younger figure, he said, the APC has signalled its readiness to adapt to evolving political realities and tap into the strengths of a youthful population.

Yilwatda maintained that young people possess key attributes such as adaptability, technological awareness, and innovation, which are essential for strengthening democratic values and promoting accountability.

He argued that a politically aware and engaged youth population remains the strongest safeguard against democratic decline.

While acknowledging that recent economic and structural reforms introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu have come with challenges, the APC chairman insisted that they are necessary for long-term national growth.

He said early signs indicate that the reforms are beginning to reposition Nigeria for fiscal stability and global competitiveness.

“Investor confidence is gradually being restored. From renewed commitments in the oil and gas sector to growing interest in Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure space, the signs are clear that the country is on a path to recovery and growth,” he said.

Yilwatda also pointed to growing interest from both local and international investors, attributing this to policy changes in areas such as foreign exchange management, subsidy removal, and investment liberalisation.

He added that endorsements from international institutions, including the World Bank, reflect increasing global confidence in Nigeria’s economic direction.

The APC chairman, however, cautioned that sustaining these gains would require vigilance, particularly from young Nigerians, whom he described as the backbone of democratic continuity.

He urged them to remain committed to national development and to actively participate in civic processes, stressing that the future of the country depends largely on their engagement.

According to him, allowing self-serving political actors to dominate the narrative could reverse progress and return the country to periods of instability.

Yilwatda reaffirmed the party’s commitment to inclusive governance and youth empowerment, noting that sustainable democracy can only be achieved when young people are not just participants but active drivers of change.