The meeting had in attendance representatives of Hunter Associations, Market women Community leaders, and Traditional leaders.
There was paper presentations on Inspiring Youths for Leadership by Executive Director, Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) Idris Miliki Abdul, Challenges of Youth in Attaining Leadership position and the way forward by Executive Director, Initiative for Grassroots Advancement in Nigeria (INGRA), Hamza Aliyu, plenary session, Question and Answer session and Communique development and dissemination.
*OBSERVATIONS:*
– The act of voting, especially for young persons, is a crucial role in participation in leadership at community level
– That Vote Buying (financial or in kind) was prominent between political party agents and electorates during the 11th November 2023 Governorship elections at grassroots levels
– There was crisis and intimidation by party and candidate supporters at some polling units due to late arrival of election materials
– The elections was generally peaceful
– The implication for vote buying and selling is corruption that leads to poor governance that affects the community persons more
– The electorates are also guilty of supporting vote buying by actively “selling” their votes during the elections particularly at grassroots levels
– Effective representation should be a good quality for youths in leadership
– Young persons have lost hope in governance in Nigeria and are leaving the country in numbers (JAPA phenomenon) due to lack of satisfaction on the outcome of the 2023 elections
– There was no young persons that obtained party nominations and became candidates in the 11th November 2023 which is a worrisome development
– That despite 18 years being the age of voting by the Nigerian Constitution, the age to contest elective positions in Nigeria is 25 years. This is discriminatory
– The “Not Too Young To Run” Law has made attempt at addressing this discrimination. But there are still gaps
– There is a wide gap in awareness of community persons on the existence of the Youth Development Commission Law and the Not Too Young To Run Act, which has a significant implication on youth for leadership.
– There is corruption and Accountability issues in all areas of our community life including religious, professional and community circles, which has significant negative impact on youths
*RECOMMENDATIONS:*
The meeting made the following recommendations:
– INEC and the Security Agencies need to address the negative phenomenon of vote buying and selling
– Political parties must do more to ensure that young persons have leadership roles in the management of the party at all levels
– There is need for citizens to fight corruption and encourage Accountability in all spheres of life
– The constitutional requirement on the age of contest must be amended
– Citizens must desist from participating in vote buying as it disenfranchises them of their right to select those who should lead them and affects development and good governance
– INEC must make concise efforts at monitoring the activities of political parties to ensure financial transparency and accountability
– Government through its agencies such as the National Orientation Agency, and other agencies must make concerted efforts at raising awareness of community persons, especially young persons, on the laws that particularly affect them such as Youth Development Commission Law and the Not Too Young To Run Act
The Town-Hall meeting commended the Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR) for its continuous efforts at improving youth involvement in democracy in Kogi State. It also appreciated The Nigeria Women Trust Fund and MacArthur Foundation for their support.
*Signed:*
*IDRIS MILIKI ABDUL*
*_Executive Director_*
Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR)
Lokoja, Kogi State
