The leadership of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Osun State chapter has declared that the State government did not temper with the directive of the Federal Government on the composition of list for the forthcoming National Youth Conference.
A civil society organisation, Coalition of Concerned Nigeria Citizens, CCNC, had alleged that the Commissioner for youth in the State, Moshood Olagunju, replaced their delegate with another person and included government appointees on the list.
The group, through its spokesperson, Oluomo Success, during a protest at the government Secretariat on Tuesday said Olagunju removed civil society organisation and other youth stakeholders from the list.
However, while addressing journalists, the Akinbode Oluwasegun, Chairman, NYCN in conjunction with NANS/Osun JCC, Nigerian Youth Parliament, NYP, in Osogbo, said every youth groups were adequately represented, including the CCNC, saying the concerned Nigerian Citizens was only being mischievous.
According to him, All states were allocated eight slots each and each Commissioner to chair the committee, with a clear mandate for 50:50 gender representation, and these slots were allocated through a fair process involving the statutory bodies.
“In Osun, NANS/Osun JCC, CCNC, NYCN were asked to present female candidates in a bid to meet the 50:50 gender balance, but CCNC first insisted on having 4 delegates and later claimed there is no female within its fold. This we believe is not a sincere stance and the commissioner insisted they should present a female.
“As the chairman of the umbrella body I can attest that Hon Commissioner of youth affairs Hon Moshood Olagunju has not in anyway cause confusion or fight within the youth constituency, he has strictly followed the directive of the Hon minister of youth and the directive is quoted in the confab document which is a public document.
“It is then a matter of necessity as the representatives of the youth populace toaddress the recent unauthorized protest witnessed in Osun State Secretariat on 24th June 2025, reportedly orchestrated by an unregistered and unknown group, which has unfortunately caused percieved tension within our state.
“We are deeply concerned about the attempt by this unrecognized, self serving and politically motivated groups to stage a protest against a process they were never a part of, nor legally mandated to be involved in. Their actions are clearly aimed at sabotaging the efforts of the Governor of Osun State, His Excellency Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke, a man who has consistently demonstrated his genuine commitment to youth development, inclusivity, and good governance via osun state ministry of youth affairs
“The NYCN Osun State Chapter, NANS OSUN JCC, NYP OSUN CAUCUS and all its affiliates had no knowledge or involvement in that protest. Such actions, uncoordinated and without legitimate representation, only serve to distort public peace and mislead the populace at a time when calm and coordinated engagement is needed most.
“Let it also be known that we reject in totality any attempt to politicize youth representation or disrupt the harmony of our state. These protests are not only baseless but also a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and create unnecessary tension in the state”, he said.
