The Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government, Mr. Ayodele Adewale, has said ability, not age, should be used when contesting for political offices, if the country must develop.
Adewale, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Owolabi Yusuf, said this during a youth seminar with the theme ‘Youth empowerment: Panacea to Nigeria socio-economic malaise,’ organised by the Stone Bridge Platform in Lagos on Monday.
He explained that the solution to the country’s social economic maladies lay in empowering the youth economically, technologically and politically for national development.
He added, “It is pathetic that Nigerian political class has disenfranchised the Nigerian youth by not allowing them to contest for certain political offices based on age restrictions while private sector encourages anyone with ability without using age as a yardstick.
“As an antidote, ability should be considered over age as a benchmark to contesting for political office.
“The youth have enormous responsibility in chanting a new course for Nigeria. In my contact within and outside Nigeria, there seem to be a growing and continual push for a national youth-initiated agenda and a youth-led coalition that would push for the renaissance that we all aspire to see in our country.”
He recalled that in the time past, Nigerian youths had contributed immensely to the social-political development of the country.
One of the organisers, Mr. Yinka Kujembola, said government at all levels should embark on reforms aimed at reducing illiteracy, corruption and unemployment.
October 2, 2012 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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