Comr. Israel Femi Alonge, the Chairman of NYCN, Kogi State chapter, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lokoja.

Alonge said that the level of the Nigerian youths’ turnout and active participation in the exercise across the country, would show to the world their level of serious and readiness to take charge.

He stressed that the Nigerian youths could no longer afford to remain silence but should speak out as displayed in the just ended EndSARS saga with the mantra “SoroSoke”.

”We must take a firm grip of this opportunity and get ourselves duly registered and revalidated to enable us become active members of the democratic, and be part of decision making and implementation processes.

”Youths can only become politically relevant by actively participating in politics through this exercise that will give them the platform to have a voice and be heard.

”The time for activation is no better time than now, especially as the Chairman APC Committee on Registration and Revalidation of Youth and Women is our youthful and useful Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State”, Alonge said.

The Kogi youth leader described Bello as the most youth and women friendly governor in Nigeria.

He emphasised that the APC both within the State and National levels, had shown great concern to women and youths by availing them the opportunities to be part of the governance and policy making and implementation.

He particularly commended Kogi Governor for ensuring that women were elected into all the 21 Local Government Areas as Executive Vice Chairmen and Council Leaders.

He added over 64 female Councillors were elected across the 21 LGAs, adding that former NYCN Coordinators were made automatic Secretaries and Supervisory Councilors of their various LGAs.

”Youth involvement and participation in governance and policy making goes beyond the usual ranting on social media.

”Now is the time to go down to the grassroots and become card carrying members of a political party”, he said.

He urged the Council’s Coordinators in the 21 LGAs of Kogi, to collaborate with other afiliated youth organisations for massive youth mobilization and participation in the ongoing party registration and revalidation exercise.

He advised the youths to maintain peace and orderliness and cooperate as usual with the security agencies to ensure absolute peace during the exercise. (NAN)
ASA/

Lokoja, Nov. 26, 2019 (NAN) The Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has declared Friday Nov. 29, as public holiday for all schools in the Western Senatorial district and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency of the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had scheduled a supplementary poll for Kogi West inconclusive rerun senatorial election, and a rerun of House of Representative poll of Ajaokuta federal constituency, to hold on.Saturday Nov. 30.

A statement signed by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Eric Aina, on Tuesday in Lokoja, directed all public and private schools in the affected areas to proceed on holiday on Friday Nov. 29.

”Ahead of the suplimentary and re-run election in Kogi West Senatorial district and Ajaokuta Federal Constituency, Kogi Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has declared Friday Nov. 29, 2019, as public holiday for Schools in these areas.

”All public and private schools in the affected areas to proceed on holiday from Nov. 29, 2019 and resume academic activities on Monday Dec. 2, 2019,” he said.

According to Aina, the break is to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls in some designated school premises while the students and pupils stay under the custody of their parents during this period.

He, therefore, urged all parents, schools’ heads, teachers, relevant stakeholders and the general public to take note.

Aina, however, enjoined schools in other parts of the state that are not affected by the election to maintain the normal academic calendar without interruption.

Governor Bello defeated his closest rival, Musa Wada after polling a total of 406,222 votes against 189,704 votes polled by Wada.

The certificate of return was presented to the governor and his deputy by the INEC National Commissioner, Mohammed Kudu Haruna at the Kogi State Headquarters of the commission in Lokoja on Thursday 21 of November

The Governor called on all citizens and stakeholders in the state to join him in consolidating on his administration’s first term gain.