By Thompson Yamput
Kogi youths on Thursday tasked governorship candidates of the 18 participating political parties contesting the Nov. 11 Governorship Election in the state with a 4-point charter of demands.
Mr Aminu Okutepa, Spokesman of the youths from across the three Senatorial Districts of Kogi, gave the task to the candidates at a Town Hall Meeting in Lokoja.
The youths, under the aegis of Lugard Youths Development and Empowerment Initiative (LYDEI), said that the Charter of Demands were their expectations from the flagbearers toward enhancing growth and development of Kogi.
Okutepa, who is the Executive Director of LYDEI, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), said: “What is paramount to us (youths) is the peace, security and socio-economic development of the state.
“The 4-point charter demand is a document derived from extensive engagements with youths across the three senatorial districts, who voiced out their expectations.
“The document provides a compelling portrait of the aspirations, concerns and expectations of Kogi youths.
“Their voices, echoing the need for improved social welfare, infrastructure, healthcare, education and employment opportunities.”
He stressed that: “We have not only identified our priorities but also offered practical recommendations to address the issues effectively and to uplift the youth and by extension, the entire state of Kogi.”
Earlier, the candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Dr Sam Omale, had frowned at fake and hate speeches that have occupied the social media space in the state and Nigeria at large of recent.
Omale described hate speeches as a product of contestants’ inadequacies and a wind that does no one any good.
The YPP candidate said that his administration would exploit the potentials in Marine, Economy, Mining, Agriculture, Industrialisation, Education, Health, Infrastructure sectors and will above all, be anchored on good governance.
The Action Alliance (AA) candidate, Mr Olayinka Braimoh, said he had identified the root cause of poverty in the state and was ready to deal with it through wealth creation.
He pledged to exploit and harness the economic potentials of the state through agriculture, tourism and education for wealth and job creation
On his part, Sen. Dino Melaye, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, who was represented by Mohammed Kabiru, said his government will be youth-friendly and would do everything possible to bring more youths into the mainstream of politics and governance.
Also speaking, Mr Olajide Adebayo, Speaker, Nigerian Youth Parliament, Kogi Chapter, advised the youths to resist being recruited as political thugs by desperate politicians in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that others who spoke at the event were representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political party leaders, media and National Youth Council of Nigeria. NAN
