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Oladele John Nihi is vying to become the next President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria(NYCN). He is currently serving as the Chairman of the Kogi State Chapter of the NYCN. He is a friend and a brother. But I have not always called him brother and friend because I did not always see him that light. As a matter of fact, when I first knew him, I dismissed him as a rabble rouser; one who derives pleasure in using even non-issues to rankle the sensibilities of rational folks. And because politics makes many lose their ability for rational thinking, Oladele John Nihi became the reference point for antagonism to the GYB government. I simply dismissed him. Alongside the name he was commonly known by, Peace Ambassador.
But this wasn’t for long. At the time, the Kogi State House of Assembly was enmeshed in the fallout of a leadership crisis; split in two camps with neither side ready for a truce.
From a WhatsApp group created by the Peace Ambassador for engagement with lawmakers and to keep up with activities from the Executive arm of government, a committee was set to reconcile lawmakers. Nihi was the leader of that committee which comprised respected and eminent personalities, some older than he is. Their cause was successful and in recognition of this feat, the State Government honoured the members of the Peace Committee during the 25th Anniversary of the State in 2016.
That changed my perception of Nihi. According to him, his motivation was to ensure there was an enabling environment for a harmonious relationship to exist amongst all organs of government especially the Executive and Legislature as the state would be the better for it. There is no other state to call ours and the earlier we all joined hands together for her sake, the better.
When Nihi made his intention known to run for the chairmanship of the State chapter of the NYCN, many of us from keyed in. Because we believed in his capability and capacity to provide leadership for Kogi youths.
The Youth Rebirth became more than a campaign slogan used during his campaign, it became the theme of a certain kind of consciousness, a certain kind of awareness, a certain kind of acknowledgment that young people had a prominent role to play in governance.
Indeed, beyond being a campaign slogan, Youth Rebirth became the guiding force for the actualisation of the campaign promises Oladele John Nihi made. Youth Rebirth has become a way of life for members of the campaign team and eventually the executive members of the Oladele John Nihi led NYCN and those who identify with them. As of today, the Youth Rebirth is gradually becoming a culture, a way of life, one which the entire youths of Kogi State are gradually catching up with as they all agree that to achieve a new result, we must do things in a new way. Youth Rebirth charts this new way.
And now is the time.
The time for this ideology, this culture, this agenda to go national and set a new chart for all Nigerian Youth.
Oladele John Nihi through the Youth Rebirth commits to repositioning the Youth Council for effective service delivery, youth empowerment and strengthened institutional relations with relevant bodies. Nihi leaves no one in doubt that with the kind of purposeful leadership he’s demonstrated to be capable of, the NYCN will be repositioned for greatness and Nigeria youth will be the greatest beneficiary of.
Oladele John Nihi is a graduate of Political Science with a Masters Degree in Peace Building and Conflict Resolution.
A very intelligent young man, Nihi is intrepid, calm and focused. One of his greatest skills in my estimation is his ability to discern and choose his battles (read struggles) with wisdom which is for me one of the prerequites for leadership positions. Nihi knows what it means the difference between winning a war and a battle and strives to win at both. Most times using strategies many young people would discount as portraying weakness. In the end, he comes out strong. Because at the end of the day, sometimes, our strength is not in show of might but in wit. And it is a gift to identify the difference and know which strategy to deploy when the need arises. This is necessary because the NYCN in recent times has been bugged down by a series of crisis which I am confident needs qualities like those possessed by Nihi needs.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria is on the cusp of a new dawn and I am deeply convinced that this dawn will break into a morning which ushers in the Youth Rebirth era which I am confident will reposition the Council and Youths across Nigeria for their pride of place in the development of our great country.
Oladele John Nihi is the man for the job. Vote for him.
– Petra Akinti Onyegbule
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