Group Condemn Alleged Planned Protest Against New Youth Affairs Ministry

A group, Unicorn Community Development Association (UNICODE) has denounced any planned protest against the appointment of Hon. Abubakar Momoh as the minister of Youth development and empowerment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group made this known against the backdrop of opposition and planned protest by some youth constituencies over the age level of the minister.

The group in a statement on Sunday by its director of media and publicity, Hon. Hassan Tukur Ajikobi said such protest was unnecessary as the constitution of the country did not stipulate any strict criterion for choosing the occupant of such office and that the person in question has exhibited strong credentials in that regards that shows he could effectively discharge the office of minister of youth development and empowerment.

The statement read in part, “It has come to our knowledge through electronic and print media that some unscrupulous element of our country mostly youth have constituted themselves into nuisance by issuing some callous and derogatory statement against the newly appointed Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“That their purported or planned protest against the appointment of Hon. (Engr.) Abubakar Momoh is coming from the backdrop that he is not a youth and can’t represent the youth by occupying such office. We of UNICORN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, would’ve kept silent but chose not because from experience acquiescence as bred hydra problems bedeviling our national lives such as insecurity and economic sabotage ignited by the likes of these element ranting in the cyber space. The evidence speaks for itself from the experience of, End SARS debacle, Boko Haram, IPOB and ISWAP menaces, kidnapping, vandalizing of public infrastructure, advance free fraud (419ers) and ritualism in the name of Yahoo-Yahoo).

“We of this noble organization parades youth as well and can’t phantom where and why this outcry is coming from. We don’t want to believe that it’s being sponsored by opposition otherwise, if it is, then it’s pitiable as we’ve graduated from electioneering to governance. Therefore, youth as a title should not moron themselves to be used by politicians to destroy the fabrics of our nation. Peradventure it thus happen, everyone will suffer so be wise and let the rule of law prevail.

“There’s no generally accepted definition of who a youth must be. Youth is a mindset and so shouldn’t be tied to age but attributed to someone who’s mentally and physically fit, vivacious and full of vim. Therefore, does Hon. (Engr.) Abubakar Momoh possess vim, agility and mental and physical stability? That question ‘ll be answered by the agitators of the planned protest after we x-tray his personality. However, bear in mind that we must jettison the idea of mortgaging competence, experience and capacity on the altar of frivolity and unwarranted agitation and fowl cry of ‘YOUTH’.

“Now, let’s do a little of introspective and retrospective thinking to evaluate the situation if it really worth for this much ado. The planned action, whose interest will it serve? Is it borne out of vexation due to the electoral process that brought this government into power? Or is it a calculated vendetta against Hon. (Engr) Abubakar Momoh? Was the appointment a breach of the constitution? Does the constitution says a Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment must be a youth? What indices is used to measure a youth? Is Hon. Abubakar Momoh capable of managing the office? What are his antecedent? What has been the contribution of youth to our nation building? What informed President Tinubu choice of Hon. Abubakar Momoh for the office? Finding answers to these questions is very pertinent and may inform good disposition.

According to the group, Momoh’s grassroot background has caught its attention, thereby it has no option but to rise to the defense of this eminent detribalised Nigerian and patriot whose political trajectory is full of promises both today and for tomorrows.

“Hon. (Engr.) Abubakar Momoh as carved a niche for himself in his professional, academic and political life. He graduated from the prestigious University of Benin. Back in his days of yore as a student, he rose to become the President of the Student Union Government (SUG). This undeniable feat tells you his elements as one who understand the challenges facing today’s Nigerian youth be it academic, social, economic or political.

“His track record as a one time Local Government Chairman tells of his grassroots touch so President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wouldn’t have made mistake of his choice and so the shenanigan of staging a protest against a man who possess the capacity to establish synergy between government and in quote ‘youth’ is uncalled for. Youth should make use of their heads and not be allowed to be used as a dummy by enemies of state. We’re getting wiser as the days go by and must stand for truth, equity and justice. In the words of the great Hindu Sage, Mahatma K. Ghandi, “ conscience is like an open wound that only the truth can heal it.”