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While campaigning for the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), John Kayode Fayemi in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello alleged that APC is the only party that believe in the youth.
This is a complete fallacy that has no place in history. Because under the past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), we had far more younger persons in positions of higher authority than we presently have.
Since the governor who made this statement at a rally in Ekiti is from Kogi state, my state, I will have to take him back to the memory lane in Kogi with names of those who were younger than himself who were in positions of authorities.
His arch rival today, Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye was about 33 years old when he represented his constituency at the House Of Representatives. He went there under the platform of PDP and there was no noise about it. Who in the House Of Representative today under the platform of APC is that young today? I guess none.
In Dekina Local Government for example, Hon Adejoh Akowe was less than 36 years when he was elected local government Chairman under the platform of PDP.
Hon. Benjamin Ikani Okolo was about 33 years or less when he was elected Local Government Chairman by the PDP led government.
His successor, Hon. Mohammed Ali was about 33 years or less when he was chairman Dekina local government. All by the PDP led government.
This did not happen only in Dekina local government, it was so in most of the local governments of the state maybe for few we had people above 40 years of age as Chairman.
In the House of Assembly, it was younger people who were elected and most of them did better than what we are having today under the APC led government.
The then Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke was 33 years before he becomes Governor in 1999, he was 46 years when he left office in 2007 after serving for two term under a PDP led government.
How Yahaya Bello arrived at the conclusion that APC recognises the youth more to participate in government is still surprising to me. Though I am not to be surprised because Yahaya Bello was never part of us and knows nothing about the happenings in Kogi state or Nigeria politically before his controversial emergence to Lord over the good people of Kogi State.
PDP mentored young people to take up higher leadership positions, the party didn’t treat them as lesser beings who must praise-sing to eat Like we are witnessing today.
However, leadership should not be about age but capacity to deliver. If what we have in Kogi State today is what Youth Leadership is all about, I will rather go for a 300 years old who has more capacity.
Gov. Yahaya Bello should check history well before making random statement, thereby embarrassing himself and Kogi people.
– Comrade Maji Isah
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