…As NYCN inaugurates national transition committee
From: Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin-City
A group under the aegis of “Youth Takeover Nigeria 2019” (YTN2019), on Monday, urged State Assemblies to vote in favour of the ongoing debate on the “Not Too Young To Run” Bill.
The Bill, which had been endorsed by the Senate, is seeking amongst others, the reduction of age qualification for aspirants seeking elective political positions.
President of the YTN2019, Comrade, Amienye Omorogie, made this demand, ahead of the group’s convention billed for this week, in Benin-City, Edo State capital.
Omorogie said his group was poised to put an end to recycled political elite through the ballot, by voting for youthful candidates.
According to him, when the “Not Too Young To Run” bill is finally passed into law, it would help put those who have been ruling the country right from Independence till date and pave way for the younger ones to come in.
On the YTN2019 convention, Omoregie said “We are bringing the politically minded Nigerians; both those in the Diaspora to come on board and chart a new course for the country.
“They said that youth are the leaders of tomorrow. Those who said it 30 years ago are still there today. When are we going to be the leaders of tomorrow? Certainly it is going to be 2019 and we are coming together”.
Omorogie however expressed concern over the “gullibility of youths” and noted: “few days ago, when Atiku Abubakar decamped to PDP, I was so vexed when I saw some gullible youths coming to say we are supporting him for 2019 because of monetary gains.
“That is the painful thing. We want to tell youth that let’s not look at their money this time, let’s concentrate on what we need which is the youth taking over from the local government levels to the presidential level”, he said.
In another development, Chairman, Board of Trustee, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Chief Makole Omo Azugbene, has tasked the National Transition Committee (NTC) to reconcile all aggrieved members of the council with the view of fostering peace, progress and unity in the country.
He gave the charge while inaugurating the National Transition Committee, NTC at the National Youth Council of Nigeria national stakeholders emergency meeting for state chairman held in Benin City.
Azugbene said the committee has the period of six months to perfect its functions of reconciling the aggrieved parties in the youth body, conduct election into the executive council and conduct congress.
“The inauguration has been done by the appropriate authority, the Board of Trustee.
“This meeting of the council today is to give its seal of approval to the peace process and the National Transition Committee as constituted, however, if there is any zone or group that feels inadequately represented, they are free to make suggestion for inclusion in the NTC.
“For the avoidance of doubt the NTC has a six month non renewable tenure with the mandate to reconcile all aggrieved persons or group to organize a unity congress and conduct election into the National Executive Council of NYCN”, he said.
The chairman while thanking the Forum of State Chairman led by Amb. Sukubo Sara-igbe Sukubo for his role of mobilizing the youth to the level of relevance, urged them to remain united and focus and not to be distracted in their mission of promoting peace and unity at the state and national levels of the council.
He however pleaded with the youth to support the peace process and the Transition Committee so that they could have a unity congress and elect a national executive council after which, he would retire from active service.
Speaking also, the BoT Secretary, Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, said six months was enough for them to cause a change, conduct the election that will bring out good leadership adding that the council has suffered so much due to the leadership crisis that has rocked the council.
She said the problem besetting the council has always emanated from the minister adding that the minister cannot decide for the council but can only play an advisory role to the council.
Ativie advised the youth not to give room to external forces to interfer in the body of the youth council but should remain focus and leave a legacy that is worth emulating.
For NYCN Edo State chapter chairman, Innocent Ajayi, he said the inauguration of the committee would bring about the lasting peace that has once eluded the council.