2019: Group gives conditions for young people, women to support parties, candidates

Coalition of all National Youth Leaders of Political Parties in Nigeria (CONYLOPP), has called on all political parties to be committed to youth affirmative action that will ensure full participation of youths in the 2019 general elections.

The group also advocated for support for youth candidacy across board, youth inclusion in internal structure of political parties like NEC and the inclusion of women in governance.

The group made the call in a statement made available to Ripples Nigeria on Tuesday and signed by its convener, Olawole Olakunle.

Olakunle, who is also the National Youth Leader, Kowa Party, said the call followed a meeting of the group held in Abuja on Sunday October 21, 2018, where they deliberated on important issues that propagate the interest of young people in the Nigerian political space.

“Armed with a collaborative effort to deliver an agenda for youthful participation before, during and after the 2019 general elections, the group resolved to an affirmative pact that lays the groundwork for youth involvement in the schematics of governance post-2019 general elections.

“The group whose focal objective is to promote genuine inclusiveness for young people in the governance structure of Nigeria either in the political party organ or in government parastatals and ministries believe that young people, whose capacity and intellect are pivotal to nation-building, have been relegated to the backstage in the schematics leading to Nigeria’s governance structure.

“In a bid to articulate the affirmative action that becomes the pact that political actors and stakeholders commit to before and after the 2019 general elections, the group has highlighted a few expected outcomes from implementing its proposed affirmative action that are not limited to the following:

-That young people with profiled capacity (Female/Male) between the ages of 18-40 yrs. get appointed into critical positions in the build up to the country’s governance structure in 2019.

-That the above form a minimum of 40% of the Federal/State cabinet after the 2019 electoral exercise

-That youths get elected into substantial positions (at least 40%) in political parties’National Executive Committees in other to be part of the decision making process.

-That young people shun violence in the build up to the 2019 general election.

-That there is massive support for young candidates across board irrespective of differences in political parties and political inclinations as long as there is a proven track record of competency and intellectual capacity.

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“Hence, the Group calls on all Nigerian youths to join in the bid to make sure that the #NotTooYoungToRun bill is strategically implemented by ensuring that young people are part of the build-up of government cabinet. The group is convinced this will increase youth capacity and prepare young people for governance,” the statement read.

CONYLOPP also promised to get the commitment of all presidential aspirants and governorship aspirants in terms of commitment to the youth affirmative action before young people can vote for such candidates in the 2019 general elections.

 

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