The leadership of Nigeria youth Congress Ekiti State, wishes to laud His Excellency, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, a former governor of the state for marking a case for a generation shift to allow for youth participation in politics and governance.
Recalled that he himself was opportune to lead the government of Ekiti, at a relatively young age of 41 and his successor Ayodele Fayose at age 40 up to the time of the incumbent governor, His Excellency, Dr Kayode Fayemi who on the principle of equity could be said to have become governor at the age of 42 but de facto sworn into power at age 45 in his first tenure.
Indeed, as the young people of the state we must sincerely appreciate his stance on this trending agitation of the youth and wish to urge him to continue to add his voice at all fora to this doable agitations of the young people in this country and our dear Ekiti state.
In fact, this position of his, if sincerely desired as a beneficiary of the youth demographic consideration that he was, it readily established our confidence in his person that Ekiti youth interest can be best captured, pursued and realised through the support from him and his likes among the well meaning political leaders in the state.
Hence, beyond this declaration we urged his Excellency to facilitate, using his office to position the well meaning Ekiti youth to relevant position of policies or decision making and implementation seat to drive the economy of the state with much needed vigour and strength.
We also by this press statement urged all the political parties to plan to adopt the Sen. Ovie Omo-agege model which was unveiled during the process of memorandum for the review of 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria that 30 percent of National Assembly seats and 40 percent of State Assembly seats be seeded statutorily to the youth of specified age in the country.
The model is not to be canvassed towards legislative house alone but towards the cabinet ranked Executive seats and even of course the Judiciary.
In clear language, any party seeking the support of the youth must prepare to rise above the philosophy of reducing the youth demography to the position of PA , SA , LA but rather in active participatory position in the Federal and State executive seats, National and State Assembly Membership and leadership.
Noteworthy is that there are much qualified Young persons in the bar that are willing and qualified in all standard to rise to the Bench and peak of the Bar but prevented on the pretext that they are young.
All this must stop to know that young people are not vulnerable but only incapacitated by the strive of the older class.
Our resolve to run a synergetic system among the youth and the elderly people to have a society of our own and dreams is to us a height of patriotism to cushion the willingness and the readiness of the young people to take over their affairs.
As stated in one of our earlier statement of the press, youth would not smile at any attempt to frustrate this move.
By implication, before the expiration of our 21 days ultimatum, we are sending a reminding signals to all the major political parties to act on our position, calling for the review of the extravagant cost of nomination and express of interest form to not only enable the youth a greater opportunity to take party in the transition process but also to come out victorious as It is becoming obvious that no nation can put into effective use of it potentials except doing the exploration and exploit to the energy in it’s youth population.
While assuring the youth populace of our commitment to persistently advocate for youth inclusion in Leadership and Governance, we encourage all to be responsive to everything that matters to aid the realisation of our aspirations as a generation.
The ongoing INEC Continuous Voter Registration will no doubt offer the youth more opportunity to speak and be heard for inclusion through ballot, hence youth must responsively act and be captured in the INEC register.
More so, NIGERIAN YOUTH CONGRESS VOLUNTEERS are stationed in all the 177 wards in the state to enhance this voters registration campaign and help you through the online registration.
You may contact our secretariat to find our about them in case you need help.
Thank you for the audience.
Signed:
Comrade Tosin Adesuyi
NYC Chairman, Ekiti state