Dapo Abiodun Counsels Youths to Engage in Constructive Dialogue to Resolve Issues Instead of Protests

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has urged Nigerian youths to engage constructively with the Government to find lasting solutions to the nation's problems, rather than resorting to protests that could cause further harm. 

During a meeting with a coalition of youth organizations at the Governor's Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, OPEN TELEVISION Naija reports that Govenor Abiodun reflected on the destruction caused by the EndSARS protests in 2020. He stressed that protests often exacerbate issues without offering solutions. 

Governor Abiodun questioned the motives behind the recent calls for mass protests, suggesting that they might be driven by those who failed to achieve their aims through other means. He reminded the youths that Nigeria is their home and emphasized that there is no place where they can freely move about as they can in their own country.

"You cannot go to London and expect people to recognize you by saying 'do you know who I am?' without being seen as having an identity problem. But in Nigeria, you can assert your identity that way. 

"There is a Yoruba proverb that says 'beheading is not the solution for a headache,' if there are issues, let us discuss them, find ways to address them, and manage to correct them. Cutting off the head because of a headache is just decapitation," Abiodun advised. 

He further noted that, like many countries, Nigeria is experiencing difficult times, and youths need to bring their energy, enthusiasm, ingenuity, and technical skills to help solve these problems. 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija stated that the Governor praised the maturity displayed by Ogun State youths during the EndSARS protests, stating, "This engagement would be incomplete if I did not thank you, the youths of Ogun State. It would be the height of ingratitude if I did not appreciate your mature conduct during that period. During the EndSARS protests, while there was looting and burning in places like Lagos and Abuja, you, the youths of Ogun State, chose not to engage in criminal activities despite your anger and dissatisfaction. For that, I say a big thank you."

While explaining the key policy focuses and direction of his administration over the past five years, Governor Abiodun highlighted the emphasis on infrastructure, social welfare and well-being, education, agriculture, and youth empowerment with job creation, all encapsulated in the ISEYA mantra. 

He noted that his administration has made significant progress in health, education, infrastructure, and security, which are essential for meaningful socio-economic development.

Addressing recent attacks on his person and administration, Abiodun said, "I usually don't get disturbed by such things because one of my political mentors advised me that in politics, it's important to be mentioned, whether for good or bad reasons, as long as you're being talked about. If you're not mentioned, you're just part of the crowd. For me, I'm not bothered by attacks from faceless people on social media because I know who I am and what I have accomplished before becoming Ogun State Governor. I became a Senator before 35, the youngest at the time, and have been active in the state's political scene since then. After all I've gone through to reach this position, someone thinking I'd just bite my fingernails is a joke. I became Governor under the most challenging circumstances and didn't endure that baptism of fire to become complacent."

"Our Internally Generated Revenue was around N50 billion a year before. But in four years, we have grown it to almost N200 billion, and someone says Dapo Abiodun is just sitting in Ogun State and doing nothing. That has to be a joke," the Governor stated. 

He emphasized that his administration includes young brilliant men and women who are contributing significantly to the state's development. 

The Governor said the meeting aimed to discuss the current realities in the country affecting the state's youths, urging them to stay focused and avoid distractions that could jeopardize their future. 

He explained that he signed an executive order to split the Ministry of Youths and Sports into the Ministries of Sports Development and Youths Development to better support youth and sports development in the state. 

As gathered by OPEN TELEVISION Naija, Governor Abiodun assured the youths that the Ministry of Youths Development would soon have its own commissioner, who would be young, brilliant, and vibrant.

"I believe it took us some time to formalize the creation of that ministry. When you create a ministry, you must have a permanent secretary and other necessary office components for it to function. Not having a Commissioner for Youths Development is not deliberate or intentional. I promise you that you will get that commissioner, who will relate to you and articulate your generation's needs to the cabinet," he added.

Earlier, one of the youths, Motolani Oyediji, called for more youth inclusion in Government. 

The State Chairman of the National Youth Council, Kolawole Soremi, also urged the appointment of a Commissioner for Youth Development to handle youth-related issues and called for regular dialogue between the youth and the Government to address potential misunderstandings.