By Lillian Okenwa
“With the heightened spate of insecurity, widespread corruption, and a general sense of dissatisfaction among Nigerians, one can say that the 2023 election represents, perhaps the most pivotal election year in Nigeria… The obvious reality in today’s Nigeria has reinforced the growing yearning of Nigeria’s youths to play a more active role in the leadership recruitment process in Nigeria ahead of 2023,” wrote Iwok Iniobong in BusinessDay newspaper on 24 July 2022.
It is on account of these realities that Juliet Isi Ikhayere an Abuja legal practitioner and youth leader urged voters in Bwari/AMAC Federal Constituency to vote wisely for candidates who will introduce beneficial changes to their lives and the nation. Ikhayere is the candidate for African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Bwari/AMAC Federal Constituency.
A member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Juliet Isi Ikhayere, in an interview disclosed that she has the capacity to make laws that will impact positively on the people, and bring rapid development to Bwari/AMAC federal constituency, adding that the two councils will flourish better when she emerges winner.
According to Ikhayere who said women and youths are interested in social justice, equity, good governance, and honest leadership, every promise made during her campaigns would be fulfilled to the letter when she gets into office.
In addition, the aspiring Member of the House of Representatives disclosed that the party would leverage the votes of women and youths who have keyed into the social and economic programmes of the party.
“There are many constituency projects that we have lined up for the constituency such that will benefit people in the health sector and educational sector among others. Most of our people are clamouring for such projects that will help them acquire skills that will enhance their livelihood.
“I will also ensure that our people get justice because when there is justice, the people will develop a better sense of belonging. I will also provide social empowerment for the people by helping them enhance the way they do business within the limits of my resources,” Barrister Ikhayere said.
Calling on Nigerians to look beyond their biases in the forthcoming elections, she remarked that challenges will not limit her active participation in the process leading to the 2023 elections.
“I am not limited by any of the existing biases. I am blind to religion, ethnicity, and also gender blind. We are looking forward to having an Abuja that will accommodate everyone, a place where people will have a sense of belonging without thinking about religion, tribe, or the gender one belongs to.”
Born in Kubwa 27 years ago, in Kubwa, Abuja, the multitalented legal practitioner, and consummate farmer attended Grace of God Nursery and Primary School, Ideal Nursery and Primary School, all in Kubwa, and later Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Bwari. She obtained a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Benin, an LL.B from Enugu State University, and a B.L from the Nigerian Law School, Bwari campus.
“I’m passionate about the socio-economic development of my people and my place of birth”, she said.
And as top Nigerian editor and columnist Azuka Onwuka in his article 2023 election: Have Nigerian youths finally woken up? said: “Now that the preparations are on for the 2023 election, that anger has been rekindled. For the first time since 1999, the Independent National Electoral Commission is reporting a sharp rise in voter registration by young people. Registration centres have been besieged by a mammoth crowd of young people, making INEC, which used to beg people to come forward for registration, unable to cope with the turnout.
“The youths are also mobilising themselves across the country to vote in next year’s election. Unlike in the past when people had to be paid by politicians to participate in electoral matters, the youths are using their own money to mobilise others for next year’s elections. They have also used social media to their advantage.
“The youth renaissance in Nigeria is a thing of joy for anyone who wants to see a new Nigeria where leadership is service and development. If the youths of Nigeria can henceforth maintain their energised state on issues of political participation, then the political elite would sit up and know that the party is over.”
