Ooni urges speakers to lead youths to relevance

Lauds Makinde on youths’ inclusion in governance
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has charged the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin and other young speakers across the country to change the narrative of governance in Nigeria by performing excellently and advancing democratic ideals.The monarch, who spoke yesterday while playing host to House of Assembly speakers from Plateau, Zamfara, Kwara and Osun states led by Ogundoyin of Oyo State in his palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said the young speakers, who are in their early 30s, must justify the signing of Not-Too-Young-To-Run Act.

The Ooni urged them to inject fresh blood into the nation’s polity and display good leadership qualities to further lead the youths to political prominence and prosperity.

The monarch, who said that he would continue to celebrate the young speakers and other young Nigerians appointed or elected into political positions, urged them to ensure the project of Nigeria of their dream starts with them.He particularly lauded the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for setting the pace for the involvement of youths in politics, especially with the appointment of a 29-year-old Mr. Seun Fakorede and others as commissioners in the state.

Ogundoyin, in his remark, said the speakers under the “Not-Too-Young-To-Run policy” had been working and relating for the involvement of more youths and women in Nigerian politics.He promised to partner with the Ooni of Ife on his various educational and youth empowerment programmes targeted at over 18,000 young Nigerians across the country.

Other speakers, who spoke at the palace, said they were happy to visit Ile-Ife believed to be the ancestral home of the Yoruba and assured the traditional ruler of their resolve to justify election into political offices.The Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mr. Seun Fakorede, in a short presentation at the palace, urged all youths to rise up to the challenge of leadership while also challenging Nigerians and indeed Africans to start writing their stories themselves.