A former president of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo has appealed to young Christians across the country to get involved in politics.
Osinbajo urged the younger Christian population to ensure they become part of the deciding bloc during elections in the country.
The former vice president and senior lawyer made the appeal while delivering his keynote address at the 2nd Annual Daniel Taiwo Odukoya Memorial Lecture held at The Fountain of Life Church in Lagos.
Highlighting how important it is for young Christians to immerse themselves in the nation’s political landscape, Osinbajo said politics remains the only legitimate route to leadership.
He added that through politics, societal transformations are instigated across nations.
He also noted that he is not oblivion of the dangers and bad reputation associated with politics in this clime.
According to him, choosing to stay away from politics only translates to the forfeiture of the people’s right to the best leadership choices.
“Politics has acquired a bad name, not just in Nigeria, but across the world. But the truth is, there is no other way to influence a nation except by engaging in the political process.
“If we are not involved in choosing leaders, shaping policy, or participating in political parties, then we forfeit our right to complain when outcomes don’t reflect our values,” Osinbajo said.
He further stated that involvement in politics must be deeply rooted in knowledge and preparation to serve.
“You must study. You must understand how things work. Read biographies, and understand healthcare, education and economic systems, particularly in the African context.
“It’s not enough to have passion. Without preparation, you’ll produce no meaningful results,” he said.
Osinbajo decried the fact that most people participate in politics without the needed knowledge or plan and only end up destroying existing systems rather than improving on them.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.
