Youths Need To Wake Up To The Realization Of Their Influence In Politics’ -Teheed Hassan

Teheed Hassan Taiwo is a journalist turns businessman. A bold energetic and grassroots mobilizer aspiring to become a lawmaker in Kogi State. In this chat with SECURITY MONITOR’s Senior Correspondent, Ola Simon, Mr Teheed who solicits the supports of Yagba East electorates promises to fly the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) flag and provide quality representation to his people. He bears his mind on his journey into Politics and the need for youths to brace up for the challenges ahead…

Excerpts

Sir, can you tell us about your background please?

I am from Ife-Olukotun in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State. I am from Teheed’s family, actually it is a very large family and from my own side, I am the third born. I attended Wesley High School, Ife-Olukotun, thereafter I studied here in Kogi Poly where I bagged my OND, and after my OND,I proceeded to have my HND in the same school.

I began my career in the media. I started with Daily Trust, before joining the New Nigeria News Paper. I got a transfer to Lagos and after working for six months, I resigned and joined Tribune and after working with Tribune for a year, I moved to Leadership Newspaper, I have toured round almost all the media house before settling down for my own business as a contractor. Actually my company is a construction company and that is what I have been doing till date.

Can we know the name of the company?

Enrich Investment Trust Limited. It has been registered since 2007 but we came into full operation in 20012 and up till today, I give God the glory, we are waxing stronger.

Sir what prompted you to venture into politics despite being a successful contractor?

Actually, let me start this way, politics is what I have been nursing since a very long time ago. I have been watching the suffering of my people and in my little way; I have been intervening in their affairs by empowering them. It came on me the desire to touch more lives and the best way is to represent them so as to be able to impact on their lives positively.

Each time I travelled home, I see young men not fully utilising their potentials. Some move round the street, no job. I even saw an old friend who was a farmer. He looked so old and gaunt, although farming is good and a lucrative business, but when you do it in the old way, you can’t get the best and much of your energy will be sapped. So the best way to touch their lives is to represent them and initiate policies and programmes that will touch their lives.

Sir looking at politics and its dynamics in Nigeria, do you really think the youths are having the headway?

I really appreciate this question. I listen to a programme that involved the past president of the country, Rtd General Olusegun Obasanjo. In the programme, Obasanjo was advising youths not to see themselves as a group of people who can attain power in the country. He advised the youths to come out and contest. In the programme, another man raised an issue, he said when youths indicate their intrest in politics, they are usually intimidated by the strength of connection and financial muscle of the elders.

Obasanjo refuted the claim. He said the majority of the votes come from youths. You see, Nigerian youths have sold themselves to those who have been in power since the early sixties. We must realise that it is the youths who get them into power because we don’t even believe in ourselves. The moment we decide to support one of our own, the trend will be reversed.

I was chatting with a friend of mine abroad, a white guy. He said in Nigeria, do we still have the youths. I said yes, and he questioned the rationale behind the selection of an old grand pa as our president. He said it should have been someone young and agile.

Your dream is to represent your people, are there areas you have highlighted as your action plan towards improving their lot?

Yes, the area I really want to come in is in the aspect of employment and youths empowerment. You are hearing cases of kidnapping and other social vices, if youths are meaningfully engaged; they will have no time for such. Youths when empowered will solve the majority of the problems confronting us. They unleash mayhem on the society as a result of their frustration. Employment and empowerment will lay to rest many of the social vices confronting us.

Another area is the aspect of education, some people want to go to school but there is no one to train them, after secondary school, some can move further, those are areas I will focus.

Looking at politics in Yagba East and the issue of zoning, will you say the arrangement will favour you?

Yea. The zoning system, I don’t think it will be a barrier this time because even from the Federal to State and the Local government, the arrangement has been abused. I belive Nigerians are no more interested in party but personality. Buhari was elected because of his personality. So the issue of party, zoning or other sentiment will not affect the choice of the people in the next election.