The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has expressed solidarity with the Ogun State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Kehinde Oluwadare Sunday over his ongoing travail over a media statement he made recently.
The youth council also urged all stakeholders in Ogun State to exercise caution in the ongoing debate over the contentious statement and not do anything capable of creating disaffection in the state.
It will be recalled that an online news medium, The Encounter, in its publication earlier this week, quoted the commissioner to have purportedly cast aspersion on a national leader of the APC and former Governor of Ogun State, Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba. Oluwadare assessed the credentials of the former Governor comparing him to the likes of Tinubu on issues of leadership, mentoring and succession.
The statement did not go down well with supporters of Osoba who are seeking for the head of the commissioner. The situation got awry for the embattled Oluwadare as the State Government distanced itself from the statement saying he acted on his own volition. The government afterwards apologised to Osoba stating that “It had reprimanded the Commissioner “.
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However, the coalition of youth groups led by the NYCN, Ogun State chapter, in a statement released to the media at the end of an emergency meeting Wednesday night enjoined all sides to exercise great restraint in handling the matter. The statement signed by its State Chairman, Comrade Abduljabaar Aiyelagbe and Secretary, Comrade Akolawole Soremi reads in parts:
“We have taken cognizance of the ongoing development as regards the statement credited to Dr Kehinde Oluwadare Sunday; and while it is not in good taste, it is not entirely a crisis situation as it currently portends to be”.
“On behalf of the youth Commissioner and the entire Youths of Ogun state, we hereby use this medium to tender an unreserved apology to former Governor Olusegun Osoba. We are convinced that Dr Oluwadare’s comment was grossly taken out of context”.
“Our father is a respected national democratic icon who we all adore and no youth will deliberately denigrate him. We likewise extend strong apologies to His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the government of Ogun State over the embarrassment caused by the development”.
The youth council observed that the commissioner belongs to the youth constituency and has performed creditably in the discharge of his primary assignment thus far and should not be punished unnecessarily.
According to the council, “Oluwadare is a worthy representation and icon of the youths in this administration, who has done well in the ministry allocated to him. It is our expectation that the baby should not be thrown away with the birth water”.
“This is a learning curve and the right lessons have been learnt. We are optimistic that the young man will bounce back better and be a pride for the youth and people of Ogun State. He is definitely one for the future and this minor setback must not kill a great potential”.
The statement also enjoined those politicizing the matter to desist from taking undue advantage to peddle mischief and animosity.
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