Dada Olusegun and Power of Determination

After the 2022 FCT area council elections, where I ran for the Abuja Municipal Area Council Chairmanship and faced defeat, I was devastated. The loss lingered for weeks, shattering my expectations. I often cried in private.

During the APC Convention a few weeks later, I witnessed how a candidate for the party’s Youth Leader position, Dada Olusegun, broke down on stage when asked to step aside for another candidate. Many on Twitter ridiculed him. However, I empathised with his pain.

Having experienced the agony of electoral defeat as a young politician, I reached out on Twitter to offer support however the backlash from the online mob because most were against anything or anyone that supports the All Progressive Congress.

Shortly after, Olusegun posted a message encouraging young people who had lost elections to share their experiences. His post was heartening and supportive.

The anguish of a young person losing an election can shake their faith in society and their political passion.

Look at some of Peter Obi’s supporters in the 2023 presidential election; many have vowed never to vote again, and these are just supporters, not actual candidates.

But Olusegun didn’t let his setback deter him. He persisted in serving and supporting the party that nearly dashed his service dreams.

Unlike some of us who retreated from politics for a while, he remained dedicated. Today, he reaps the rewards, and I hope he serves to the best of his ability.

This should inspire young people who have sworn off voting. A setback isn’t the end of the road; the journey is the destination, and challenges are part of the way.

I’ve had the chance to speak with many disillusioned young politicians who’ve lost interest in serving the people. Dada Olusegun’s story is a testament to determination and resilience.

Finally, I want to highlight that the current administration has provided a platform for many young people to serve. The youth should see this as an opportunity to rise. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

By Michael Odoh
Abuja