PRESS RELEASE!!!

“NO” TO TACTICAL EXPULSION OF NIGERIAN YOUTH FROM CONTESTING FOR POSITIONS AT THE NIGERIA’S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS

The Nigerian Youth Parliament is a youth legislative platform inaugurated by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua, on the 25th of August, 2008. The parliament consist of 109 distinguished Youth Legislators from the Senatorial districts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in which Youth legislators from the three  Senatorial districts in Osun State are actively representing the youths of the State.  The Parliament is a medium through which Nigerian Youth are being involved in government’s policy formulation at the national level.

In line with the present situation of the Constitution Amendment in the country, we want to make our stand known to the public on behalf of the peace-loving youth of Osun State, upon whom we stand proxy at the floor of the Nigerian Youth Parliament.

Just last week, the Federal House of Representatives amended 40 out of the 44 clauses presented to it in a report submitted by the Hon. Usman Nafada-led House Committee on the Constitution Review. While in session on Tuesday, April 27, 2010 the Honourable Members voted and agreed on a lot of issues such as on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), cross carpeting of political office holders, independent candidacy for elections, etc. Of almost concern is the resolution of the House to tactically stampede the Nigerian youth in national political participation. On the faithful day, the House resolved that the AGE limit of a contestant for an election into the Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives should be increased from 30 to 35 years. The Senate had earlier resolved while considering the report of its Committee on Constitution Review that the AGE limit of a contestant for an election into Senate should be increased from the present 35 to 40 years. Meanwhile, the AGE limit for an election to the national assembly is as contained in the Section 65(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. This clause is the one that the two chambers of the national assembly have agreed to amend.

In our view and in accordance with the known international best democratic practices, we want to make it public that the resolutions of the two chambers on this issue are worrisome, uncivilised, undemocratic and anti-youth development. And that the step is tantamount to cause violence and chaos in the country. Likewise, we want to state it unequivocally that through our political offices at the national assembly, coupled with enabling environment, adequate man power training and state-of-the-heart exposures, we can compete favourably with our peers all over the world and also contribute our quotas towards nation building and meaningful national development. If given the opportunity, we will proof some of the wrong assumptions of some leaders in this country that the present crops of youth are inexperienced to paddle the canoe of this country to greater heights. In addition, we are using this medium to advise the 36 State Houses of Assembly to take note of this matter and reject, in its entirety, the harmonised resolutions of the national assembly on this issue.

Kofi Annah, Ex- Secretary General of UN, once said, “No nation is born a good citizen; no nation is born democracy. Rather, both are processes that continue to evolve over a lifetime. Young people must be included from birth. A society that cuts itself off from its youth severs its lifetime.” They must let the Nigerian youth grow to their God-given prominence. Enough is enough of sit-tight syndrome!!!
Yours-In-Nation Building,

Signed:
Hon. Isiaka Olamilekan Popoola
For Osun State Representatives
MAY 4th, 2010