Comrade Babatunde Oyesanya (TOD) is the Youth Leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Ikorodu Division, and a former Youth Leader in Ward C4, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
The young politician, who has been with the party since its inception and stayed through its transformation, is one of the dynamic and feasible youthful figures in the APC over the years.
He recently led other youth leaders in the six councils in Ikorodu Division, and hundreds of the APC youths in organizing a massive rally that was termed, ‘Building The Votes’ for his party’s candidates for the Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assembly seats in the coming 2023 general elections. The rally was held at the party’s secretariat in Ikorodu recently.
He spoke with Kunle Adelabu, Publisher/Reporter- in – Chief of THE IMPACT in an interview where he explained the concept of ‘Building the Votes’ among other electioneering issues. Excerpts:
THE IMPACT: What is ‘Building the Votes’ all about and why was such a massive rally organised?
Comrade Oyesanya: As a political party in power, we have a strong tentacles across the Niger and beyond, which Ikorodu Division is not exempted, so, when we say build the votes, basically what it means is that our teeming party faithful with electoral values should involve in reaching out to a lot of undecided voters because vast majority of people enrolled or collected their PVC just for means of identification. So, with the strategy being deployed, we would reach out to such people and make them see reasons why they should support, canvass and vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates come 2023.
The meeting was necessitated because they say experience is the best teacher and having served for 8 years and more as APC Ward C4 Youth Leader, we couldn’t achieve as expected in terms of election delivery, engaging with community based youth organizations (CBOs) and (VYOs). So, basically, it’s to harmonize our strength, dot the i’s and cross the t’s and evaluate our SWOT. It’s also to double assure the youths that All Progressives Congress has rekindled its hope through the candidacy of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
THE IMPACT: How prepared are the youths under your leadership in ensurin that your party’s candidates get maximum votes in the coming elections?
Comrade Oyesanya: Practical steps are being taken. We have a designed APC Youths Ikorodu Division campaign organogram with focuses on bottom to top approach. Right from the polling Unit to the Zone, Ward, LGA/LCDA and Divisional level, though, I wouldn’t want to divulge the nitty gritty of our plans here, but come December this year, we would be having a rally like never before tagged, ‘APC Youths Ikorodu Division Endorsement Rally’, where apolitical Youth organisations will come out en masse in the open to endorse our candidates with their PVCs in their hands. It’s going to be loud, just keep your fingers crossed. Let me add one more thing; our social media interactive session is coming up in full flesh, where we would be engaging ourselves on issue – based campaigns and not like some social media ranters. I employ everyone to follow us on our Instagram handle: https://instagram.com/apc_youth_ikorodu_division?igshid=NmNmNjAwNzg= and facebook.
THE IMPACT: What is your message to the candidates of your party and the general public?
Comrade Oyesanya: I charge our party candidates to continue to strengthen and keep the APC’s flag flying as they have been doing prior to this moment, and for those that are re – elected and the new candidates that are coming, people’s oriented programmes should be one of their cardinal points. Youth empowerment in all facets should be taken seriously and support for more youths inclusion in governance and inclusion in the decision making of our party.
