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NATIONWIDE PROTEST: AIYEDATIWA’S MAGIC OF YOUTHS INCLUSIVITY IN ONDO STATE
The first day of August brought palpable fear to all Nigerians. Both the rich and the poor waited frantically to embrace calculated eventualities. Some even bought enough consumables in case the holocaust happened. Parents beckoned on their children for a cover. Even the security agents in the country were all ready to ensure that Nigeria didn’t go down whichever way the protest went.
Remarkably, on the first day of August 2024, Ondo State witnessed undisturbed calmness. The people of Ondo state detached themselves from the happenings in the country. They acted like they all lived on an island where everything they ever needed had been provided. On a jocular note, if there is any security agent who didn’t eat and drink while on a special duty yesterday in any part of Ondo State, such person had no money. While the people of Ondo state deserve commendations for following the path of wisdom, the occasion demands that we study the incredible magic of Governor Aiyedatiwa in engendering peace on a day that everyone envisaged violence.
For the records, Governor Aiyedatiwa became the 7th Civilian Governor of Ondo State on the 27th of December 2023 after the unfortunate demise of his leader and boss. Since December 2023, ninety-five percent of his appointments have gone to the youths of Ondo State. This is the first strategic approach to curb youths restiveness while re-channeling the strength of the youths to productive thinking even as they partake actively in government.
Apart from Aiyedatiwa’s direct youths inclusivity in governance, the Governor deliberately scaled up the talents and ingenuities of young people as they were trained to solve tech related problems.
Ondo state under the leadership of Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa noted the invaluable benefits of investing in technologies especially as necessary tools to curb youths restiveness while creating economic growth and development for individuals as well as the state.
Aware of this laudable development, the Governor mandated Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA) to partner with local and international agencies in order to foster economic growth and development in the state by organizing a six month training for tech professionals and those who were interested in tech.
Aiyedatiwa, being youthful at 59, understands the power of engagement. The Governor would stop at nothing to listen to the yearnings of young people who represent the strength and future of the state. The passion to engage, ability to create employment opportunities for young people, approval of bursary and scholarship, facilitating trainings to upscale the youths etc earned him the Doyen of Youths Award by the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ondo State chapter. The youths came together and openly endorsed him to continue with the mandate of leading the people of Ondo state beyond 2025.
However, it is good to envy the sanity that was displayed by the youths and people of Ondo state. But it is instructive to note that it didn’t come by luck or threat. Ondo could have been another Kano yesterday but for the foresight of a leader who knows how to re-channel the strength of his youthful citizens who are largely vulnerable. For avoiding a repeat of the #EndSARS saga where arsonists had a free party in Ondo state, Kudos, Aiyedatiwa. Ondo is indeed Lucky.
*Sunday Olugbenga Abire is Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Ondo State*
