The son of the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Moshood Akiolu of APC, emerge winner of Lagos Island Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives elections.
Akiolu scored 12,988 votes to defeat the candidate of the PDP, Adamoh Olagbenga, who scored 4,345 votes. Akiolu, in an interview with ‘Newsmen on Sunday’ in Abuja said that he took advantage of the “Not Too Young to Run” act to win the Feb. 23 election.
Akiolu said, “In Nigeria today, more than half of our population are younger than 30. So, if we’re old enough to vote, we’re old enough to run for office too. That’s the idea behind the #NotTooYoungToRun. The campaign initially launched in support of Nigeria’s Age Reduction Bill. Signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on May 31, 2018, it has given young Nigerians like me the opportunity to serve my constituency and my Nation. All the while, Nigeria’s population trended younger and younger, until reaching its current median age of 18.
“As one of the first few young Nigerians who have benefited from the movement, I will make sure that the act will not be out of order. Let’s not forget that the absence of youth in decision-making processes in government has created disillusionment among Nigerian youths with regards to Nigeria’s political parties and the ruling class.
“Presently, Nigeria has a high unemployment rate, most of them youths, but there are lesser policies than those required to halt this problem. If the youths of a country are jobless, then there is bound to be an increase in vices. The people of my constituency longed for change to get me here and I won’t disappoint them. Being a young person and having confidence in me, their interest will be uppermost.”
