The Ondo State Youth Network is the apex and most prolific youth group of Ondo State extraction who are established businessmen, student leaders and professionals in their chosen field of career. The membership base of the body is spread across the 18 Local Government Areas and the three senatorial districts of the State whose major vision is to ensure a prosperous Ondo State with the youths as active players in the progressive project.
In strict compliance with the above stated vision, the leadership of the body, on behalf its members, wish to take the following positions in commiseration of this unprecedented official Democracy Day:
1. SECURITY
The body has observed with utmost distaste, the unholy alliance among our traditional rulers, political leaders and the herders community in the State which has given some of these herdsmen a free hand to predominantly carry out their evil act (the kidnapping business).
While we respect and encourage the peace and unity stance of the Nigeria constitution, we won’t wave aside the dangerous rise in the insecurity of the state caused by the activities of kidnappers and “palace invaders” who are predominantly Fulani herdsmen.
In our belief that curbing this menace should be a joint role of political leaders, traditional rulers, Youth and interest groups, and all security quarters, we are forced to swallow the bitter reality of joint efforts of the political class, traditional institutions and security operatives to frustrate our struggle to ensure a secured Ondo State . This is evident in the role of the security operatives in the cancellation of a peaceful rally to call the attention of our government to the state of insecurity in our communities by several Yoruba groups.
On this note, we call on the government of Ondo State to wake up to its major constitutional duty of ensuring the safety of security of lives and properties of the citizens by organizing a robust all encompassing security summit in the State where stakeholders will progressively agree on a way forward to the issue of insecurity daring us in the face.
In the same vein, the State government should be brave enough to see the advantages in supporting the introduction of state police in the country which is well above its solvable disadvantages.
2. EDUCATION SECTOR
It is crucial that the people who will take over the leadership of the State in the future are not priced out of obtaining education, at all levels. On this, we will appreciate the State Governor on his efforts in ensuring an infrastructural upgrades in our primary schools across the state and ensuring the free shuttle initiative of the past administration is not thrown in the bin. However, we would love to join our voice with those of other stakeholders in the state to plead with Mr. Governor to prevail on the management of Adekunle Ajasin University and Ondo State University of Science and Technology to ensure a reasonable reduction in the fees payable in these institutions.
We have observed with keen interest the parochial tendencies of the management on this issue of tuition fees. We therefore urge the state Governor to make sure the tuition fees is reviewed in these institutions to ensure that our brothers and sisters on these campuses are not forced out of school. Education should must be affordable and all inclusive.
We also urge the state government to increase the percentage budgeted for education and also see to it that the budget is fully implemented.
3. YOUTHS INCLUSION IN GOVERNANCE
It will not be out of place if we posit that the apparent dominance of the Ogun/Lagos State axis in the south western region of the country in recent years is one of the produce harvested from our reluctance to expose the youths to governance.
In the last 8 years, we have always gotten second class ministerial positions and all of these ministers are always beyond 60 years of age. In the last 8 years, the average age of our senators hasn’t gone below the 60 years average.
Recently, while other states are celebrating the emergence of young House of assembly speakers, we have successfully reinstated obsolescence and mediocrity in our dilapidated house of assembly complex. However, we wish Mr. Rt. Hon. Speaker a productive and successful tenure.
The Lagos and Ogun states have always had their way in snatching anything zoned to the south western region because they have in abundance, young and experienced hands at their disposal, a path our neighbors in Ekiti are now taking- building the youths.
We therefore plead with the state government to open rooms for another qualified youths to gain political and administrative experience in a bid to solve the political marginalization headache.
4. THE ECONOMY.
The road revolution of the state government has shown that the Governor is strictly adhering with its administrative road maps. Construction of roads help link markets and consequently ensure the economic prosperity of the state. This is evident in the unprecedented huge increase in the IGR of the state recently.
Furthermore, the efforts of the state government to ensure youths are integrated into the entrepreneurship and Agriculture scheme. However, we won’t hesitate to demand for transparency in the employment and empowerment processes as most of these processes are obviously restricted to the wards of the political and influential class, ignoring capability and readiness hence the failure of most of these processes. One of the beautiful ideas killed by this evil policy of restriction is the “Youths on the ridges” program.
We therefore urge the state government to ensure these programs are thrown open and made accessible.
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