The City Boy Movement West Africa Director, Olatunde Igbasan, has urged Nigerian youths to use their platforms to promote the country and shun electoral violence.

Igbasan, who also identified himself as the APC Youth Network West Africa Director General, made the call during an Independence Day walk organised to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary and the APC Youth Week in West Africa.

He urged young Nigerians to use their influence positively rather than engage in activities that could damage the country’s image.

“We can use our platform for different things, to promote our nation, rather than to demarcate the country you have come from,” he said.

Igbasan also expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the government had brought changes Nigerians in the diaspora could see.

“We have past presidents. We have leaders that have come and gone. Nothing has changed so far. But this present president, things have really changed a lot in the diaspora for us,” he said.

He called on youths to support Tinubu for another term, arguing that continuity would allow ongoing projects and programmes to be implemented.

“I believe this is the time for us to give our president the opportunity for the second time so that what he is doing, the implementation that he is doing,” Igbasan said.

On infrastructure, he said roads and other development projects were essential to national growth.

“You cannot build this nation without infrastructure,” he said, citing South Africa and China as examples of countries where infrastructure had contributed to development.

Igbasan also urged eligible young Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate peacefully in elections.

“The PVC has come. Go to your ward. Go and get your PVC,” he said.

He advised youths to leave polling areas after casting their votes, as remaining could expose them to violence.

“On the day of the election, the moment you cast your vote, please go home,” he said.

He also cautioned young Nigerians against allowing themselves to be used by politicians or activists to participate in violent protests.

“Those people telling you to stay there, when this riot comes, they went back to their houses. Their children are not in this country,” he said.

Igbasan encouraged youths dissatisfied with government policies to participate in politics and contribute their skills to national development.

“If you said the government is not doing well, come and join the party. You must belong to a society. Show your skill,” he said.

He urged young Nigerians to apply their education and expertise to sectors such as transportation and mining.

“What you have learned in school, bring it on board. You have to start now,” he said.

Igbasan further urged Nigerians to help solve the country’s challenges rather than limit their participation to criticizing those in government.

“We understand that we cannot get everything 100%. But then you don’t need to go out there and say this person is not good,” he said.

He concluded by calling for continued support for the Tinubu administration.

“In as much as he is on the throne, we need to support him to finish what he is doing,” Igbasan said.

Also speaking at the walk, the Senior Special Assistant to the Lagos State Governor on Civic Engagement, Ruth Ayomide, expressed support for Tinubu and challenged opposition aspirants to account for their records in previous public offices.

Ayomide said the walk was organised to celebrate national unity, progress and prosperity, while encouraging youth participation in civic and political activities.

“We planned the walk in favour of celebrating the unity, the progress and the prosperity of the country,” she said.

She described his participation as part of his civic responsibility in Lagos State and mobilisation activities.

“As the SSA Civic Engagement, it is part of our civic responsibility in Lagos State and also as part of mobilisation,” she said.