From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Gender Issues, Adaze Emwanta, today, ordered the closure of the state secretariat of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).
The Commissioner in a statement said the transition committee which some leaders of the Council were kicking against would be operating from a location to be provided by the ministry, adding that the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, would meet with stakeholders in the Youth Council next week.
“It is hereby announced for the information of the general public, that the Edo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Secretariat of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter, which is situated along Akpakpava Road, Benin City. This closure became necessary due to the leadership succession crisis rocking the state Chapter of the Youth body. Security agencies in the state have been informed of this decision and have the mandate to apprehend any person or group who volunteer to violate this directive of the government.
“In the meantime, the Transition Management Committee, which was set up to organize the Youth Council election will operate from a location to be provided by the supervising Ministry. A meeting of all critical Stakeholders in Youth Council Affairs in the State with the Deputy Governor will be held early next week.
“The warring factions must continue to maintain the peace during this period of transition, as the State Government remains committed to promoting the welfare and social inclusiveness of all youths in the state”, the statement added.
Earlier, some members of the Youth Council had called for the removal of the Commissioner over alleged attempt to foist his crony as the head of the new leadership of the Council.
Follwing rising tension, armed uniform and plain cloth security personnel were in strategic positions at the secretariat of Youth Council, popularly called Youth House along Akpakpava Road in Benin yesterday morning state.
Speaking to journalists, the chairman of a five man transition committee set up to conduct election into the association in the next two months, Ehis Osagie, requested for the sack of Emwanta saying “the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Edo State chapter has been witnessing a rift in the past few weeks following the failure of the suspended Executive committee led by Comrade Osahon Davison Obasuyi to put machineries in place to usher in a new administration.”
He said consequently, “the management committee which is the second highest decision making organ of the organization after congress, in its wisdom, constituted a five man caretaker committee to put in motion, modalities for the conduct of an election in 60 days which the dissolved executive failed to achieve.”
He, therefore, called for the retraction of a statement credited to Emwanta announcing the appointment of one Sarah Igunbor as the chairman of the transition committee to oversee the affairs of the NYCN for the next six months, saying the action “in total disagreement of the management decision made on Wednesday 26th October, 2022 on setting up of a five Man Caretaker Committee, with a duty in conducting an inclusive election within next 60 days.”