Fraternal Greetings to the youth stakeholders from Osun State!
Sequel to the release of the names of Osun State Nominees for the Nigerian Youth Parliament as captured in a Press Statement signed by the Hon. Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Osun State, Hon. Moshood Olagunju, the Osun Youth Parrot, Osun State has been inundated with calls and observations from various stakeholders in the State with allegations of foul play, politicking, and lack of female representation in the selection process.
It is important to note that the Nigerian Youth Parliament is under the tutelage of the National Assembly and funded by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, Abuja.
It is a non-partisan umbrella body for Nigerian youths created in compliance with the United Nations Charter on Youths Development and pursuant to the resolutions of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in the Republic of Malta in 2005 as a platform through which their voices could be heard on government policies that directly affect them.
The NYC Osun State would like to first acknowledge the relentless efforts of the Ministry of Youth Affairs in Osun State in overseeing the selection process over the years.
It is also commendable to note that the selection process this time around was publicized just as it’s the practice over the years.
However, what is worth doing at all, is worth doing well. Because man will create an event and the event will create history. It’s important to avoid creating bad precedents so that posterity can be kind to us all in the future.
Here are the observations on the Selected Nominees
1. It is observed that there was no female representation. This is in total contrast to the request for nominations sent to the Osun State Ministry of Youth Affairs by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development in Abuja where it was categorically stated that there must be female representation among the three Nominees. This is a total aberration and must not be allowed to fly. We have it on record that only one female candidate attended the interview. The candidate (name withheld) is from Ayedire Local Government in Osun West. We wonder why she is not selected for gender-balance since the Selected Osun West Nominee, Daud Owolabi is from Iwo in the same Federal Constituency with this lady.
2. Also, the Osun East and Osun Central Nominees already have appointments with the Osun State Government. For the avoidance of doubt, Godwin Adedayo selected to represent Osun East is a Special Assistant to the Osun State Governor while Akinrinade Adekunle selected to represent Osun Central is a Personal Assistant to the Hon. Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Hon. Moshood Olagunju. The selection of these two candidates is against the principle of fairness, justice, and impartiality. Meanwhile, the Honourable Commissioner and the Ministry of Youth Affairs wants the public to believe the Candidates were selected on merit. How can you be a judge in your own case?
3. Lastly, it is important to mention that the selected candidates have no known track records of service to the Youth Constituency in the State. We would like the Osun State Ministry of Youth Affairs to release the profile of these candidates to prove us wrong. Also, it will be necessary to see the results of the interview to ascertain the merit and grounds of their selection.
In conclusion, this is to call the attention of all critical stakeholders to these obvious foul plays and abuse of power. We also call for a redress in the best interest of the teeming population of vibrant and resilient young people of our dear State.
Semiu adewale
Osun Youth Parrot
