The Osun State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the State Commissioner for Youth, Moshood Olagunju have disagreed over the cause of the crisis rocking the council in the state.
The Heads of Organisations that make up the council at a press briefing on Tuesday accused the commissioner of being the man behind the crisis rocking the council by supporting a factional group against the elected leadership.
Alade Badmus, who read the address on be 27 heads of organizations present, said the Council had an elective Congress in April 2023 and that Ajala Adetunji-led executive members are the only recognized leadership of the Council.
Badmus said, “We have seen a meeting where the Commissioner pronounced that the elected Chairman as bee suspended and there’s no law that supports that assertion or pronouncement. Commissioner can’t suspend a Chairman, only Congress can.
“No allegation or petitions was issued to tarnish the image of the commissioner, but a resolved of the council was a register our displeasure to the role our honourable commissioner played. We want to state in clear term that Hon. Moshood remained the overall head of all the youth in the state, all we requested from the commissioner is not to allow some people who meant no good for the state to hide under the commissioner to perpetrate disunity. We also want to inform the public that many of those hell bent on causing religious crisis among the youth constituency are not from Osun State and would not allow such.
“We are sure that the Commissioner might have a good heart, however his actions to the youth council constituency in resolving any wrangling seems partial and non inclusive and at that such must be addressed for peace we have been enjoying in the state to continue.
“To also set the record straight, the constitution of National Youth Council of Nigeria recognise structure and those who have been acting under pretence of the headquarters of NYCN are neither the leadership of Southwest nor have the constitutional power to represent within the state. We the real stakeholders of over 40 affiliated Voluntary Youth Organisations that spread across all the 30 local government areas are with decision of the Congress of April 6, 2023.”
In his reaction, Olagunju exonerated himself from the crisis in the council, stating that he is only working with directive from the National body of the organization and the Grand Patron of NYCN, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
He said letters were sent to the Governor by the National headquarters of the Council asking him to recognize another person as the caretaker chairman in the state.
“I have no problem with him. The problem is between him (Ajala) and his people at the headquarters. The national headquarters sent letter to us that they are coming to conduct an election in the State and that they want us to work with the caretaker chairman.
“The grand Patron, Baba Ooni, also sent a letter to Mr Governor on this. So I have no issue with them. I can’t go against the headquarters and Baba Ooni on this matter.” Olagunju said.
