Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called on Nigerian youths in the country to embrace active political engagement and reject the role of passive observers in shaping the nation’s future.
Speaking at the June 12 Democracy Day lecture in Abuja on Thursday, Uzodimma reminded young Nigerians that democracy is not built solely on laws or institutions, but on the continuous participation of citizens who vote, speak out, and hold leaders accountable.
“Young Nigerians must see themselves as part of this system. They must see themselves as participants, not mere spectators,” he said. “You inherited the right earned in 1993. You must also inherit the responsibility that comes with it.”
He emphasised that no constitution or political system, no matter how well-crafted, can uphold itself without the will and integrity of the people who operate it. “Change comes from active participation, not docility,” he stressed. “There is also the matter of political will. That is what sustains democracy.”
Reflecting on the significance of June 12, a date etched into Nigeria’s democratic journey for its association with the annulled 1993 presidential election and the legacy of Chief Moshood Abiola, Uzodimma urged Nigerians not to relegate its importance to annual rituals or symbolic gestures.
“June 12 represents a point in our national journey when the people made a clear choice and the system responded in disagreement,” he said. “In recognising June 12, the APC-led government did more than declare a public holiday. It corrected the record. It restored the name of Chief MKO Abiola to its rightful place in our political and democratic history.”
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