November 05, (THEWILL) – The Edo State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the secretariat of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Edo State Chapter along Akpakpava road, Benin City.
The Government in a statement issued on Saturday by Commissioner for Youth and Gender Issues, Andrew Adaze Emwanta (Esq), said the closure became necessary because of the leadership succession crisis rocking the state chapter of the Youth Council.
According to him, “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 government”.
Meanwhile, the Government has inaugurated a Transition Management Committee, to organize an election for the Council.
The Transition Committee, Emwanta said, 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 hold early next week.
“The warring factions must continue to maintain the peace during this period of transition, as the state Government remains committed in promoting the welfare and social inclusiveness of all youths in the state”, he said.
While inaugurating the transition committee, Emwanta noted that “the role of the Ministry is to supervise the activities of the Youth body and when it now becomes necessary if there is a breakdown of law and order, we have to intervene.
“That was what inspired the decision of the state government to temporarily close down the secretariat.
“The idea is to stop them from fighting themselves and for the government to interact with stakeholders.
“Your duty is to look at the constitution in consultation with the Ministry, what is the template for the next election, what date is suitable and what resources do we need to conduct this election.
“And when necessary you now set up an electoral committee as stipulated under the constitution because as transition management committee you cannot subsume yourself into doing that role that your constitution has reserved for that committee.
“I am aware you also have congress planning committee. You are to look at the various affiliated associations, about twenty-three of them in all. It is among these chapters you pick credible persons that will attend the congress because I am aware that it is during that congress that you elect officials.
“That is your mandate and that is why it is an interim responsibility. It is because you are people of integrity and very neutral that the ministry called stakeholders who nominated you. It was not the Ministry that nominated you.
“We threw it back to stakeholders, we threw it back to the two factions and we must move forward as a council we must move forward, as a ministry we must move forward because we have many other things.
“You must ensure there is peace, order and tranquillity in the affairs of the Youth body by conducting a credible, free and fair election”, he noted.
The Chairman of the Transition Management Committee, Comrade Sarah Igunbor, thanked the government for finding them worthy to serve in this capacity and promised that they will remain neutral and find a lasting solution to the leadership crisis by conducting a credible election.
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