In less than seventy days, the Osun State Governor, H.E. SEN. ADEMOLA ADELEKE will inaugurate elected lawmakers that will constitute the 8th Assembly in the state. These lawmakers are expected to work with the Governor by giving him and his government legislative support(s).
Since Sen. Ademola Adeleke took over the affairs of governance in Osun State, it has been an era of leadership focused on improving the condition of the people. To further achieve this with the 8th Assembly, this piece, therefore implores the members-elect to vote for the emergence of youth leadership in her in-house election.
Thursday, 30th March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State presented a certificate of return to all the elected lawmakers. The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) won 25 seats to form the majority while the All Progressives Congress (APC) Olufemi Popoola, won Boripe/Boluwaduro constituency seat to form the minority.
Now that the certificate of return has been collected, Osun State indigenes within and outside the state are curiously waiting to know who would lead the assembly and how the assembly through its leadership would complement the hard-working/people-oriented governor popularly called IMOLE OSUN.
The late Jamaican singer, Bob Marley in one of his song lyrics said, “Who the cap fits, let them wear it”.
Dear readers, who are those that will wear the cap of the Osun State Assembly leadership and why should they wear it?
In what looks like an answer to the Not Too Young to Run bill, Gov. Adeleke has produced a set of young, vibrant, technologically driven, and experienced lawmakers who would drive home his manifestos and campaign promises to the people of Osun.
From Ife North, South, East, and Area Office to Ifelodun, Osogbo, Irepodun, Obokun, Odo-Otin, Ilesha, Ifedayo, Iwo, and Ede among others, Osun State will witness an era where zealous and young lawmakers would preside in the legislative activities of the 8th Assembly.
The United Nations Development Plan (UNDP) in its 2012 report titled, “Youth, Political Participation and Decision-Making” submits that the youth can create a creative force, a dynamic source of innovations, and they have undoubtedly, throughout participated, in history, contributed, and even catalyzed important changes in political systems, power-sharing dynamics, and economic opportunities.
In a piece published by The Cable, titled Why youths must engage with government: Taaooma’s tale, Olusola Owonikoko states that “Youths are the backbone of any nation. Their physical and intellectual energies matter to the growth of a developing nation such as Nigeria. One way the government can leverage the manifold talents in its youth is through meaningful engagement and dialogue”
Owonikoko further submits that “Active participation of youth with the government is essential for creativity, innovation, and development. When offered the right runway length to showcase their prowess, youths can be initiators and propagators of massive change. Their active participation in political affairs will resolve so many national challenges.”
To make a difference in the longer term, young people must be engaged in formal political processes and have a say in formulating today’s and tomorrow’s politics. Inclusive political participation is not only a fundamental political and democratic right but also is crucial to building stable and peaceful societies and developing policies that respond to the specific needs of younger generations.
From the foregoing, this opinion therefore advises the Osun State Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke to consider allowing a young, vibrant and technologically-driven lawmaker to lead the affairs of the 8th Assembly in the state.
Whoever (that is) any young qualified lawmaker who wears that cap would have to himself, time, zeal, readiness, determination, and ability to speak for the Osun people( East, West, and Central.)
Also, such a person or the leadership would be an all-known legislator(s) who is familiar with the needs and problems of the young, old, students, and artisans among others.
That said, we look forward to knowing who will lead the 8th Assembly to the promised land and support the Governor in actualising his dream for the people of Osun State.
NB: Emmanuel A. writes from Osogbo, Osun State.
