Dear Youths of Ogun State,
I write to you not as a politician, not as an appointee, and not as a praise-singer, but as a stakeholder who shares the same dreams, struggles, and aspirations as you. This not from a place of malice, but from a heart heavy with concern, yet burning with a desperate desire for our collective redemption.
Ogun State is a land of giants, an intellectual powerhouse bordered by the commercial pulse of Lagos. Look at the political landscape of our dear Gateway State. What do we see? We see a vibrant, energetic, and highly capable youth demography daily reducing its immense potential to cyber-warfare, bitter partisan banters, and toxic sycophancy. We have turned ourselves into shields and swords for political principals, tearing each other apart over differences that yield nothing for our collective constituency.
Let us speak the bitter, unvarnished truth: None of us throwing these punches are on the ballot. None of us can confidently guarantee that the principals we bleed for will deliver what the youth constituency rightly deserves in terms of systemic appointments, socio-economic development, robust networking, and sustainable empowerment.
We are fighting for "principalities" that have not yet promised us a seat at the table — not because we lack the ability, but because we have not demanded it with the right currency: ‘competence’. It is deeply ironical that the loudest voices online belong to the "supposed" and "relevant" youth leaders — individuals who are often direct or indirect beneficiaries of governance.
Yet, if we strip away their titles and their proximity to power, we are unleashing barren landscapes. Where is the single, sustainable youth-centric initiative conceptualized, proposed, and executed by a youth leader that has fundamentally transformed the lives of ordinary young people in Ogun State in the last sixteen years of democratic governance? How many times in the last sixteen years has any of you the ‘supposed’ and ‘relevant’ youth leaders called government to order on issues affecting our constituency and got a positive result? How have we fared in influencing policies and ideas that shapes governance in our dear State - I am not talking about organizing rallies, political walk shows or solidarity arrangements, I mean real governance deal? Instead, what we see is a desperate hustle to be seen as vocal attack dogs, purely for personal gains, individual pockets, ego satisfaction, and the hope of a political appointment. We are betraying the truth on our tongues for temporary validation.
We have traded the noble pursuit of institutional development for the crumbs of political patronage.
We do not need to look far for a blueprint of what is possible. Lagos stands right beside us. Lagos is not just a neighbour; it is a living lesson. There, the youths command respect not because they are the loudest, but because they are the most prepared.
They have evolved beyond being "political foot soldiers" to becoming professionals, technocrats, and influencers. In Lagos, it is not unusual to see young people as commissioners, special advisers, and heads of agencies—not because they have godfathers, but because they have ideas that work. They bring value, not just volume. When political parties in Lagos look for candidates, they increasingly turn to young people— not merely because of financial muscle, but because these youths have demonstrated the intellectual capacity, technocratic depth, and emotional intelligence required for modern governance. They don't engage in endless, fruitless banters; they build value, command respect, and force their way to the decision-making table through sheer merit and strategic organizing.
Why must this be missing in the Gateway State — a state historically renowned as the cradle of Nigerian intelligentsia? Why are we settling for less? Why do we accept that our role is limited to cheering and banting? Ogun State has the resources, the proximity, and the intellect to rival Lagos, but we are failing because we have reduced leadership to a popularity contest rather than a competency test.
This is the hard truth: when we defend a candidate simply because of personal gain, recognition, or a future appointment, we betray the collective voice of the youths. We sell our future for a momentary seat. We trade the development of our generation for the approval of our "principals." And in doing so, we become part of the problem—we become the "youth" that the older generation uses to perpetuate a system that keeps us dependent.
This cycle of exploitation has lingered for years, and it must stop with our generation. We must realize that irrespective of our political affiliations, ideologies, or the different principals we support, we share a common destiny. If Ogun State fails, it fails for all of us. If the youth constituency is marginalized, we are all marginalized.
We must transition from being a fragmented tool for political exploitation into a united, formidable force. We must stop analyzing electoral promises based on how they affect our pockets or our egos, and start analyzing them based on how they affect our collective future. We need to be real materials for governance.
We need to be in positions where our ideas can thrive — not because we supported a winner, but because we are the winners. We must demand that the youth constituency is not just an appendage to governance, but an integral part of it. Let us redefine what it means to be a "relevant youth." Relevance is not measured by how many times your principal calls you. Relevance is measured by how many youths you have empowered. It is measured by the policies you influence. It is measured by the legacy you leave. It is sad that we have turned our tongues into instruments of betrayal, speaking for personal gain rather than for the truth that will set our State free. But it is not too late.
To every young person in Ogun State, let us stop fighting for politicians who have not fought for us. Let our voices be tools of policy, not tools of slander. We must collectively demand robust, institutional frameworks for youth inclusion in governance — not just tokenistic "Special Assistant" roles that lack budget, power, or real impact.
If you have the privilege of access to leadership, use your tongue to speak truth to power and propose structural changes that outlive your tenure. Do not use your access to lock the door behind you.
We cannot wait for the older generation to hand over power. We must take it — not by force, but by force of intellect, character, and sheer preparation. We need each other. Our division is the oxygen that keeps our marginalization alive.
It is time to drop the weapons of banter, pickup the tools of intellect, and demand our rightful place in shaping the destiny of Ogun State. We are not just the future; we are the highly capable present. Let us act like it. Ogun State is watching us. The World is watching us. Nigeria is watching us. Let us give them something to respect. Let us give them a youth generation that is not just seen, but heard—because our ideas are profound, our integrity is unshakable, and our commitment to the development of our State is absolute.
In solidarity and hope,
Habeeb Whyte Esq., MBA, AICMC
Deputy Coordinator, Cityboy Movement – Ogun State,
Chairman – Ogun Youth Assembly
Chairman, Sabo Stayte Youth Association
