By: Press Council
I
Without scepticism, it can be said that about 65% of youths are mostly involved in political apathy sequel to the intuition that votes do not count. However, it’s just a gainsay.
On Wednesday, 19th October, 2022, transition is expected to be in place in The Polytechnic, Ibadan as the institution is set to appoint new executives, who are to paddle the affairs of the students’ union government for the ongoing academic session calendar year.
The Press Council has, however, seen the need to state the importance of students’ involvement in the electioneering process, as it has been observed that political apathy is a hub that accommodates most students on campus.
In new and emerging democracies, the inclusion of young people in formal political processes is important from the start. Young people’s active contributions can bring democratic values to life, leading to the overturning of authoritarian practices. In countries where young people have led protests that have forced authoritarian regimes from power, they are likely to feel significant frustration if they are not included in new formal decision-making procedures. This can destabilize democratization and accelerate conflict dynamics.
The Polytechnic, Ibadan is a democratic institution that has, however, given students the autonomy to function independently, to be governed by the preferred choice of the students.
In a bid to gather opinions from students on campus, the Press Council held a survey with a few students and in which there was a tie between students’ opinions.
“The only good thing about the upcoming election is the lecture free day that has been declared. At least, I will take a day off to catch some good rest”. Oluwaseyi, HND 2.
However, in a different opinion, Tosin, an HND 2 student of the Public Administration Department said “Our political leaders will know our priorities only if we tell them, again and again, and if those priorities begin to show up in the polls. Meanwhile, if we want a better society, we must first start by electing good representatives into offices during elections”.
The results of the survey have left us with the rhetorical question “Why are students still political apartheid in the 21st century?”
