Correspondent in Ilorin
Financial implication of contesting election in Nigeria has been identified as one of the barriers against members of Not Too Young To Run in realising their political aspiration.
The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly,Saliu Yakubu-Danladi, stated this in Ilorin at the Kwara State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) Capacity Building Workshop with the theme “Not Too Young To Run, the 9th Kwara legislative experience.”
The Reporters, an online publication, reports that the event is part of lined up activities for 2020 edition of the annual Press Week of the Union.
According to him,it takes strong risk appetite and determination for young people to sacrifice their source of living for political aspirations.”
The speaker, himself a youth said:“As a parliament with significant number of young people, we have continued to carry out our legislative assignment with diligence and high spirit of sacrifice.
“Aside our primary functions, no member of the House that has not committed personal funds into development programmes and projects in our respective constituencies.”
The speaker, however, said he dedicated his victory at the 2019 general elections to the young people,promising that he would
continue to live by good example, as a beneficiary of “Not Too Young to Run.”
” I capitalized on the strength of youths, they mobilized resources for me when I had none and that is why I can not afford to disappoint them. We shall be reason for greater confidence in young people.”
“We have done our best, so far, to make life better for our people through various interventions and facilitation of people-oriented projects, that is why as a young man, I can relate with and walk freely in my constituency and anywhere else,” he said.
The lawmaker, who appreciated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for being youth friendly and driving his administration’s policies to enhance youth development in the state noted that the governor’s appointment of young people into various strategic leadership positions was a reflectec of his belief in young people.
While promising to maintain the independence of the legislature, Yakubu-Danladi promised that the 9th Kwara Assembly would continue to sustain its synergy with other arms of government to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
The Guest Speaker at the event, Prof. Hassan Salihu, lauded the Speaker for coordinating the House effectively notwithstanding his age and lack of prior legislative experience.
Salihu said: “Upon emergence as Speaker, Yakubu-Danladi Danlad tactically and strategically constituted House committees without rancour and has continued to lead a parliament that works hand in hand with the Executive, therefore, eliminating political tension within the state.
“Nonetheless, he has tried to maintain the independence of the Kwara state House of Assembly, evidenced by his thoroughness in its oversight. A typical example is how the house publicly frowned at poor execution of some public projects, despite being in same party with the Executive.”
The guest speaker,who extolled the 9th Assembly members for standing by some of their tough positions, regardless of political motivated pressure, advised the Speaker to maintain the independence of the House.
He also urged the lawmakers to ignore name calling and continue to give support to other arms of government to ensure stability in the system and achieve developmental agenda of the present administration in the state.
The Chairman of the Council, Comrade AbdulWahab Umar, appreciated the 9th Assembly for always identifying with and support members of fourth estate of the realm in the state.
He reiterated the readiness of the union to continue supporting young people’s aspiration and the 9th Assembly, to deliver dividends of democracy to the people
