The Founder of Stanbic IBTC, Atedo Peterside, has urged youths to link #EndSARS protests in the country to political activism, particularly the 2023 general elections.
Mr Peterside who was reacting to the widespread violence, arson, massacre and destructions occasioned by two weeks of #EndSARS protests against police brutality, said the agitations would be effective if they were linked to the upcoming 2023 general elections.
“I think the #EndSARS protests had everybody rattled as people didn’t expect such a big followership. I advise the youths to link all these to 2023. The time is now. Some of the older politicians will tell you it’s too early, it’s a lie,” he said during an interview on Arise Television during the weekend.
According to the chairman of non-profit organisation, Anap Foundation, youths ought to guard against divisive elements and use their numerical strength to get what they want legally, especially as it relates to 2023 polls.
“Based on what happened, I came to the conclusion that the youths should plan to take their country back from 2023. I’m a democrat and I will not encourage anything that will subvert democracy.
“You voted for some people and you have to see it through. Start planning now for the next election. Don’t let anybody tell you it is too early.
“One powerful signal the youths can send is that they won’t support anybody who today is above the age of 60. If you all unite on that, I bet you, all the ambitious people who are below 60 will be struggling to curry favour from you.
“When you send out that signal forcefully, they will obey you.”
The former Cadbury Nigeria chairman went on to sympathise with the families who have lost loved ones, stressing that President Buhari should have done the same via his televised speech instead of handpicking only cops who lost their lives during the protests.
He also tasked social media influencers in the country on the need to encourage their massive followers to seek political knowledge and mentoring.
“Nowadays you can go to Instagram and somebody has five million followers. He is an influencer. You go to Twitter, somebody has eight million followers; he is an influencer.
“Now, those influencers should be careful. People followed you originally for music or for something else or for films. If they (social media influencers) want to become politically active, they must be responsible because a wrong tweet from them can prove violence. I hope they have understood that now.
“That large followership comes with a responsibility.
“So, if there is anything that they can do to respect the lives of the departed is for them to understand that they will use this power they have very responsibly.
“And I keep on begging them, please, engage, not just the government, go and look for mentors. For men as an investment banker historically, if I wanted to get involved in a sector, I went to find those in that sector who had more experience than me in that sector.
“They have power but they must now apply control because power without control is dangerous.”
It is worthwhile to note that Atedo Peterside CON is a Nigerian entrepreneur, investment banker, and economist.
He is also the founder of Anap Business Jets Limited and the Atedo N. A. Peterside Foundation.
See the full video of the interview below:
