By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Conscience for Human Rights and Conflict Resolution (CHRCR), a Kogi-based Civil Society Organisation has tasked political parties on the need to develop viable policies that would inspire and prepare Nigerian youths for leadership positions.
Comrade Idris Miliki, Executive Director of CHRCR made the call on Thursday in Lokoja while addressing representatives of Political parties at a one-day “Post Governorship Elections Review Meeting For Political Parties In Kogi”.
Miliki decried the rate at which Nigerian youths have been marginalised in political space, as he urged political parties to develop policies for youth development that targeted thematic areas.
The Human Rights activist noted that the country needed its youth to remain fully engaged in the political processes, saying that peace, security, citizens’ well-being and partnership were key to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
“Despite this huge number of young persons and presence of the ‘Not Too Young To Run Act’ of the National Parliament, the number of young persons in political leadership positions both at elective and appointive levels is still very low,” he said.
According to him, this has led to the discouragement and dearth of commitment on the part of youths in promotion of good governance in Nigeria adding that the scenario had adversely affected their effective participation.
Miliki urged opposition parties across the country to take responsibility in holding ruling parties accountable to the people saying that they should ask themselves salient questions like “What is my role and responsibly to the society, my community, local government State and Country?
“They must observe the ruling party and governance after election, make pronouncements and monitor the performance of the government,” Miliki said.
The activist condemned the act of vote buying and selling reportedly perpetrated in the recent Governorship Election in the state saying that the money should have been used to execute projects for the collective benefits of the people.
Miliki also decried the inability of the Kogi State Government to conduct Local Government elections, stressing that the tenure of the present chairmen expired Dec. 14, 2023 and there is no foreseeable plans to conduct elections into the third tier of government.
Representative of political parties at the meeting include: All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Party (ADC), Labour Party (LP), Young Progressive Party (YPP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), among others.
Representative of the political parties were unanimous in their resolve to develop policies in their various parties to enhance youth participation in leadership at all levels. (Ends)