By Nudoiba Ojen
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has appealed to Nigerian youths to constructively engage the government in finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s problems rather than engaging in protests that could cause more harm to the country.
Abiodun charged youth to rather bring in their vibrancy, zeal, ingenuity, and technical know-how in solving the problems.
Abiodun, who spoke when he met with the coalition of youth organizations in the state at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the meeting was to rub minds on the current realities in the country as it affects the youths in the state, calling on them to remain focused and not pay attention to distractions that could jeopardize their future.
He said that Nigeria, like many countries across the world, was going through difficult time, requiring all hands on deck to solve.
The governor, who recalled the destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the EndSARS protests across the country in 2020, said protests could only aggravate issues without necessarily finding solutions to them.
He said: “And yet again, there are calls for mass protests across the country, and the first thing that agitates one’s mind is, is that the way to present our case to government?
“Is that the way to constructively and objectively engage with government by advertising and planning mass protests? Is there something behind those who are calling for these protests? Is this another plan by those who have tried their luck and have lost? Is this their own way and shortcut to see how to frustrate the government?
“Young men and women, you have no other country than this country. There is a Yoruba proverb that says ‘beheading is not the solution for an headache’. If there are issues, let us discuss them, let us find a way around them, let us manage and correct them. Let us not cut off the head or attempt to cut off the head because of a headache. That will amount to decapitation,” Abiodun advised.
The governor acknowledged the maturity displayed by the youths in the State during the EndSARS protests.
He said, “I want to remind you that there was EndSARS, when there were protests in different parts of the country, particularly in Lagos, Abuja, and other parts where there were looting, burning and the likes. They were attacking anything attackable, but you, the youths of Ogun State said though we are angry and dissatisfied with the ways things are, we are not criminals, we are not looters, we will not participate in the protest, to that I say a big thank you.”
While taking time to explain some of the policy thrust and the direction of his administration in the last five years, Governor Abiodun said emphasis were placed on Infrastructure, Social Welfare and Wellbeing, Education, Youth Empowerment and Job Creation and Agriculture as encapsulated in the ISEYA mantra.
He said his administration had done well in health, education, infrastructure, and security, which, without them, no meaningful socio-economic development could take place.
Abiodun who also spoke on the recent attacks on his person and administration said: “I normally don’t get disturbed by such things. For me, I am not bothered that I have been under attacks by faceless people on social media because I know who I am. I know what I did before I became governor. I know how long I have been in this journey. I became a senator before I was 35, the youngest at the time.
He said, “Our Internally Generated Revenue was around N50 billion a year before. But in four years, we have grown it to almost N200 billion, and someone says Dapo Abiodun is just sitting in Ogun State and doing nothing. That has to be a joke,” the governor stated.
Speaking further, Governor Abiodun said that he had to sign an executive order to split the Ministry of Youths and Sports into the Ministries of Sports Development and Youths Development to create an avenue for the proper development of the youth constituency and Sports in the state.
He assured the youths that the Ministry of Youths Development would soon get its own commissioner, who he said would be young, brilliant, and vibrant.
“I believe that it took us a bit of time to formalize the creation of that ministry. When you create a ministry, you must have a permanent secretary and other paraphernalia of office for it to be a ministry.
“Not having a Commissioner for Youths Development is not deliberate or intentional. I want to promise you that you will get that commissioner and that commissioner will be one who will be able to relate with you and also articulatea the needs of your generation to the cabinet,” he added.
Speaking earlier, one of the youths, Motolani Oyediji, called for more youth inclusion in government, while the State Chairman, National Youth Council, Kolawole Soremi, called for the appointment of a Commissioner for Youth Development to handle youth related issues in the state and also regular interface between the youth and government to address issues that may cause misunderstanding
