The Convener of Youth In Good Governance Initiative YIGGI, a Non-governmental organisations working to advance Youths rights, Comrade Ifemosu Michael Adewale has urged the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR to include good percentage of vibrant and innovative youths in the list of his Commissioners.
This was contained in a 27 paragraphs open letter written to Prince Dapo Abiodun and obtained by our correspondent in Abeokuta today Friday 26th July, 2019.
Read more below…
OPEN LETTER TO THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, APPOINT YOUTHS AS COMMISSIONERS OR YOU RUN A FAILED GOVERNMENT.
IFEMOSU MICHAEL ADEWALE
Dear Governor Dapo Abiodun (MFR):
My name is Ifemosu Michael Adewale and I write to lend my voice to the committee working on the selection of Commisoners, should as matter of neccesity and utmost priority include notable Youths in the State as Commissioners.
As the convener of Youth In Good Governance Initiative YIGGI, a Non-governmental organisations working to advance Youths rights, I respectfully ask the Committee to ask notable Youths to submit their CV for screening.
Our Constitution includes explicit commitments to advance the Youth Constitutuency transformation but pathetic enough our political leaders have frequently reiterated their conviction that Youth inclusion in Governance is nothing to write about as we see them in their 60’s and 70’s claiming Leadership positions in this Country.
Youths must reject the cliché of being the leaders of tomorrow, because that tomorrow may never come.
In the last few decades, youth especially in Nigeria – have been neglected and relegated to the background, all facets of life including family, schools, religious organizations and government have neglected youth developments.
Youth constitutes the backbone and the future of any nation, so therefore the progress and future development of any State depend on a large extent on the Youth participation in Governance, This is why most nations have concrete development programs and actively selecting Youths into Political offices.
The place and importance of the Youth in today’s society cannot be overemphasized. This was adequately captured in Nigeria Youth Policy which states that: ” Youth are a great asset to a nation. Not only are they legitimately regarded as the future leaders, they are potentially and actually the greatest investment for a country’s development”.
From the above, it is clear that young people are the greatest asset of any nation. They are the future of any nation and serve as the bridge that links the present to future generations. They are active, dynamic, and adventurous and can serve as agents of social action and social change.
Any serious Government should devote a lot of energy and resources to building the youth to be productive, this also implies appointing Youths as Commissioners.
Any State that refuses to develop its youth will endanger its future. When the leadership potentials of young people are not developed, the seeds of failure are being sown. We cannot really talk about democracy and development without the participation of citizens including young people in active Governance.
If the State I yearn to see an emancipation from the shackles of political subjugation that has been our lot for donkey years. I believe so much in balance in governance. I have faith in the strength of youth, our power, and vigor.
Our State today is suffering from a deficit of ideas that are reflective of the dynamics of growth and development because we continue to place its progress in the hands of burned out, old and recycled policy makers.
The disaster in this is the retrogression in just about every sphere of our engagements as a state that we see, from failing infrastructures to non-existent utilities, poverty of ideas and effete policies.
Recently, the whole world looked on in dismay as an alarming number of Old men were seen on the President Ministerial list, There can perhaps be no better symbolic expression of their lackluster and inattentive attitude to the development of the Nigerian Youths Constituency. Nor, could a better statement be made as to how worn out these individuals are.
Not surprisingly, they still hold on tenaciously to power out of avarice and because The Youth let them. Yes, we do.
Those who share this perception of progress have labored and settled on the choice of incorporating Young Minds where intellect dwells, where instinct is their abode, where wisdom is their bedrock, a Youth with an extremely functional creative instinct whose iron cast commitment to the service of his country is not in doubt. We cannot continue to cry foul while in implicit in the political exclusion that prevails in the state and country.
The entire state and the body of Youths and Students across the board must rise to this opportunity before us. The time to stand up for something is Now, Actions more than words is our identity, if it is to happen, it is up to us.
We must not be afraid to take the right chances as opportunity thrusts it on our path.
I also remain convinced that no custodian of history and Lover of Peace in Ogun State can argue against the need for fresh breath in our political whirlwinds which will give our State a new face. May right prevail over wrong, equity over inequity, fairness against travesty and us all against the traducers of our will.
Nonetheless, Youths in Nigeria continue to face economic marginalisation, extremely high levels of domestic and sexual violence, are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS and also by poor service delivery.
In this context, the Ogun State Government has a vital role to play in achieving equal rights for Youths starting from the Appointments of Commissioners.
Youths in Ogun State need the appointments to do significantly more.
The new commissioners will need to work hard to ensure that Ogun State progressive laws are implemented and that duty bearers in government, civil society and the private sector are held to account when that is not the case.
I took inspiration from the recently legislative election done in OYO State, where we have Youths as Lawmakers and also as Speaker of the House; they serve as an important reminder of what a determined State under Governor Dapo Abiodun can achieve when it fully exercises the inclusion of Youths as Commisoners.
I hope that this Open Letter will help ensure a rigorous interview process that will clarify which candidates are most equipped to improve the functioning and service delivery of Ogun State.
I thank you for considering my request and in anticipation that you will effect this for a better Ogun State.
Signed
Ifemosu Michael Adewale,
Convener of Youth In Good Governance Initiative (YIGGI)
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