Youths in Osun State, under the banner of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC), staged a protest on Tuesday against the Commissioner for Youth Development, Moshood Olagunju, alleging politicisation of the National Youth Conference delegate list.
The protesters, who gathered at the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Osogbo, claimed they were marginalized in the selection process despite their active involvement in the 2024 nationwide protest against insecurity and economic hardship.
Allegations of Unfair Representation
Speaking to journalists, the group's spokesperson, Comrade Oluomo Success, expressed frustration over the allocation of delegates. "We were only given one out of nine slots and were told the delegate must be female. That decision is not inclusive and undermines our contributions," he stated.
The demonstrating youths carried placards demanding fairness, accountability, and wider representation. They warned that their protest would continue until the process was reviewed to reflect transparency and justice for all youth groups in the state.
Additionally, they appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and address their grievances, urging him to call the Commissioner to order before the situation escalates further.
Commissioner's Response
In response to the allegations, Commissioner Olagunju defended the selection process, stating that the nomination criteria were based on directives from the Federal Government.
In a phone call with BenriNews on Sunday, Olagunju clarified that all decisions were taken in line with instructions from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Abuja. He explained that the Federal Ministry later demanded a 50/50 gender representation, which affected the initial nominations submitted by several states, including Osun.
"We are only implementing what was communicated to us from Abuja," Olagunju stated. "I was instructed to submit eight names, with the ninth slot being an automatic inclusion. This is not a list of beneficiaries but committee members to guide the Confab."
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between youth groups and government officials over representation in national forums, particularly those designed to address youth concerns and participation in governance.
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