Osun Guber 2022: Youth Inclusion In APC Congress By Jamiu Ganiyu

Barring any last-minute change, the much publicised and highly expected congress of the ruling All Progressives Congress shall commence on the 31st of July across all the political wards nationwide. Before now, pundits have postulated that the circumstances surrounding the dissolution of the National working committee of the party led Comrade Adams Oshiomole by the National Executive Council of the party chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari more than a year ago shall speak doom for the party but based on the considerable progress, the Buni led extraordinary caretaker committee has been able to a large extent rebuild the party, restore confidence and redirect the course of the party to enviable heights.

While I am not particular about exploring the performance of APC nationally today, another milestone recorded by the leadership of the extraordinary caretaker committee is one of the important guidelines of the congress is that the position of youth leader from ward level, to local government, the state through to zonal and national should be reserved for the youth between the age 18-35.

For me and thousands of other partisan youths within the All Progressives family, this is a landmark that Buni led caretakers would always be known for, I must commend the current national youth leader, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed, for the great effort without which the landmark might not be achieved.

The youth within the All Progressives must unite now more than ever before because there is a great task ahead to ensure that the guideline is followed to the latter across all party structures.

Before now, the position of the youth leader is always in the wrong hands besides being occupied by older age, there are instances party youth leader is determined about the level of thuggery and to what extent you can use dangerous weapons. This is one of the reasons the party system fails to attract conscious, productive, and influential youths across all levels. As we speak most of the current occupiers of that position are far above what could be termed youth in the real sense of it.

As Osun gubernatorial election is less than a year, it is an opportunity for our great party to use this important sensitive position to attract productive and influential youth with a track record of excellent leadership. If this position could be given to this class, such individuals would also be able to attract like-minds to the party and make our electoral assignment easier.

For instance, if the over three hundred political wards in Osun are given to youth with enviable credentials, they can be converted to streets political evangelists preaching the gospel of the party and administration achievements by liaising with local youth-based organisations, carnivals, youth groups among others.

Our party leaders must consider this in their permutations in the ongoing politics of party congress across all levels besides.

importantly, there is a need to incorporate youth between this age range in the congress committee across all levels to monitor and actively participate in the process.

by

Jamiu is a member of the All Progressives Congress with over fifteen years in the folds of the progressive, a media strategist, and a sustainable development practitioner.