Youths Protest Over Nomination Of Old Politicians

·         Stakeholders Nominate Children, Relatives, Veteran Politicians 

 

 

Youths and various interest groups are protesting the lopsidedness of political stakeholders in the nomination of persons to be considered for political appointments by Governor Agbu Kefas. 

 

It may be recalled that Dr. Agbu Kefas had communicate criteria for nomination of suitable candidate for appointment as political office holders and members of the State Executive Council, insisting that 80% of the nominee must be youth and women.

The Governor directed political stakeholders in consultations with traditional and community  leaders to nominate eligible candidates for public office  

 

The process Taraba Truth and Fact Newspaper gathered have been marred by allegations of nomination of old politicians, relatives and children of prominent politicians whom many accused of not participating in the electoral process that brought Dr Agbu Kefas to office.

 

In Karim Lamido, the stakeholders had forwarded a nomination of seven persons between the age of 47 and 64 years against the governor's directive, with youths under the umbrella of Karim Progressive Youths  kicking against the list submitted by the stakeholders for the appointment into commissioners and another political appointment. 

Also, in Ussa Local Government, stakeholders are not only nominating politicians above the stipulated 45 years age but are also neglecting existing zoning principles in the area.

 

In Donga, Concerned Donga Chamba PDP Youths said majority of the nominees from their Local Governments did not meet the Governor's 80% youth requirements and were engaged in anti- party activities during the last governorship election.

 

The youths said almost all the nominees for appointments did not in any way participated in the process that brought PDP to victory. "Some of them sat in their polling units buying votes for the APC openly. We therefore reject the proposed names and ask the party to look into what is happening in Chamba PDP Donga LGA."

Taraba Truth and Facts gathered that most political stakeholders submitted their nominations without consulting the traditional rulers and other actors of their local government.   

 

A youth leader said "it is disheartening and disappointing to see the same greedy men who have been involved in politics since 1999 occupying political positions and still willing to be appointed and blocking spaces for the Youths.

"It is true that most of the stakeholders above 45years are those who have been in corridor of government for a longtime and may be restricted by a tunnel view of governance that have settled in them from their experiences with previous administrations."

Meanwhile the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) Taraba State chapter has called on Governor Agbu Kefas not to accept the purported lists of suggested names by stakeholders for appointments into various positions.

 

In a press release signed by  Chairman of the Council, Gora Nongha Soyonga and the Secretary, D. G Kwanchi described the action of the stakeholders as a deliberate attempt to truncate the good  intentions of the governor to youths and women in the state.

They alleged that political stakeholders at various local government had disregarded the governor's directives.

 

The council lamented that the exercise carried out by the stakeholders is in total abeyance of the laid down instructions in the letter and a deliberate attempt to truncate the good intentions of the governor. 

 

The NYCN said what the stakeholders have done "is a clear display of how decisions, actions, official duties and responsibilities including public trust are being managed and executed in the state over the years.

 

"Having betrayed the trust and confidence reposed in the stakeholders; the youth shall monitor the entire process religiously and judiciously.

 

The youth are no longer comfortable with the manner the stakeholders are conducting themselves and "we call on the governor to discountenance with whatever submission from the stakeholders in the execution of this mandate as same was maliciously conducted in abeyance of laid down guidelines to frustrate the goodwill intentions of this government", they added.