The importance of registering to vote during the general elections to bring about the desired changes in a democracy has been canvassed to the Nigerian youth by different celebrities at a special musical concert organised to mobilise them towards exercising their electoral franchise. Saturday, 11th June 2022, was a very rainy day. Despite that there
The importance of registering to vote during the general elections to bring about the desired changes in a democracy has been canvassed to the Nigerian youth by different celebrities at a special musical concert organised to mobilise them towards exercising their electoral franchise.
Saturday, 11th June 2022, was a very rainy day. Despite that there was a large turnout of youths who attended the Youth Vote Count 2.0 Mega Music Concert.
The concert, which even before it started in the afternoon had some youths patiently waiting, took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos.
The comperes of the programme were Real Warri Pikin, a female actor and comedian and Kie Kie, who is also a comedian. They kicked off the show by thanking the youths for coming out in their numbers to attend the concert. Real Warri Pikin said the country is in the hands of the youths as she shouted the slogan: “my PVC my power”. Another slogan that became popular at the concert was: ‘vote e go count’ by dancer and entertainer, Do2dtun, popularly known as the energy god.
Other celebrities who performed and entertained at the event include Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi, Kizz Daniel, Teni, Lasisi Elenu, Omawumi, Mr Macaroni, Patoranking, Pasuma, MI, Tuface, Joeboy, Skiibii, Small Doctor, Do2dtun, Falz, Broda Shaggi, Asake, Bella Shmurda, Waje, and Mayorkun. Apart from performing they encouraged the youths to obtain their PVCs and appealed to them to ensure they cast their votes on election day.
The concert was divided into two parts. The first part featured musicians such as Waje who sang song such as, ‘Vibes’, ‘I wish’ and ‘Polongo’. Omawumi lit up the stage by performing ‘Bottom Belle’ and ‘If you ask me’. Teni entertained the audience by performing her songs like ‘Billionaire’, ‘For You’ and ‘Power Rangers’. She took the crowd by surprise when she told an albino youth that she had married him off. This was just for entertainment. Pasuma used the Yoruba language to appeal to the youths to ensure they obtain their voters card and vote on the election day as he sang ‘Oga Nla’.
Other artistes who performed in the first segment were Small Doctor who told the crowd that obtaining their voters card was their civic right. He further added that obtaining voters card is also a process of choosing the youths preferred candidates. He sang the song ‘Penalty’. Falz who said ‘e don do’ did a brief reminder of what happened at the Lekki Toll Gate Endsars protest in 2020 while performing. MI brought energy whilst performing old hit songs like ‘Action’ and ‘One Naira’.
Toyin Abraham also known as ‘world best’ made the youths to understand that obtaining PVC is the power they need to bring the change they all want. She appealed to the youths to go out and vote rather than stay back home. Comedians such as Mr Macaroni, Lasisi Elenu and Broda Shaggi also deployed their jokes to state the importance of obtaining the voter’s card.
The other section had Tu face who sang ‘One Love’, ‘African Queen’ and ‘Amaka’ to entertain the crowd. Patoranking sang ‘Abule’ and ‘celebrate me with Alubarika’; Joe Boy sang ‘Nobody’ and ‘don’t call me back with Alcohol’ one of his hit songs; Mayorkun sang ‘Betty Butter, Skiibii performed ‘Daz how stars do’ and ‘Trenches’ while Asake sang ‘Sungba’ and ‘Omo Ope’ and Bella Shmurda, ‘Hallelu’.
Organizers of the concert, the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (Yiaga Africa), INEC, the European Union and other EU-SDGN partners including the International Press Centre (IPC), Development for Advancement Incorporated (DAI) and Institute for Media and Society said the purpose of the concert is to sensitize the youths on the need to obtain their PVCs and emphasise the importance of voting in the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the concert, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Isopi Samuela, said the EU supported the concert because youths have vital roles to play in democracy provided, they participate through registration and voting.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu said it was encouraging that about five thousand youths registered within one week of the special registration exercise in Lagos between Monday June 6 and Friday June 10, 2022, adding that the large turnout has led a change of strategy by the commission through the deployment of more machines to aid the registration process.
He told the youths that they should ensure they cast their votes at the next elections. Responding to shouts of ‘no rigging’ by the excited youths, he further reassured them that their votes will count.
Kizz Daniel was the last to perform. He wowed the crowd by performing his songs such as ‘Mama’, ‘Lie’, ‘pour me water’ and ‘Buga’ his latest hit song, which is the number one song trending currently on apple music top hundred in the country.
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