Cristopher Oni the co-founder and financier of Apollo Faramebi Foundation, a frontline and leading APC senatorial aspirant for Kogi west good will message during the one year anniversary of GYB2PYB support group at Glass House, Government House Lokoja

The Apolo Faramebi Ambassadors /Movement were present at the event in their large numbers fully kitted with customized GYB2PYB T shirts to identify with the Youth O Clock Mantra

You will recall that the last eleven months ago, Apolo Faramebi Foundation under the leadership of Oni Christopher Tosin has propagating GYB2PYB project across the length and breadth of country through town hall meetings, flyers, social media, mass media and other electronic media publicity.

Below is the good will message of Oni Christopher Tosin the Financier and Co Founder of Apolo Faramebi Foundation on the First Year Anniversary Celebration and Premiere of ADOZA (Documentary About the Timelines of Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello)

Penchant for Youth Inclusion in Governance

Ahead of 2019 general elections, a bill named Not-Too-Young-To-Run was concieved, championed and presented to the eight National Assembly by some brilliant youths for consideration and passage into law

The major import or essence of the bill, which received mixed reactions, was to reduce the constitutional age limit or barrier that had precluded youths from contesting certain elective positions, especially that of the president.

The bill was later passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari amidst fanfare.

This was commended and applauded by many Nigerians, including the youths that saw it as their own and a way to exploit politically.

While all these were ongoing, I was among the youths that were opposed, critical, skeptical and cynical of the law and its essence.

Placing age above performance capacity in leadership recruitment and assessment is a misplaced priority.

It is like putting the cat before the horse. Globally, age ceiling is never an issue in leadership recruitment or choice. As a good student of political history, I know that the likes of late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Anthony Enahoro and other nationalists who fought and got Nigeria’s Independence did so as youths with the right attitude, patriotism, altruism, education, sincerity, diligence and commitment.

They never saw their ages as barriers or limitations. They utilised their youthfulness, energy and knowledge well at that point to get the needed result. They were never carried away by hedonistic and ostentatious lifestyle that is common among youths of today. They were more purposeful and united in the struggle for the country’s independence and others. What should be key in the choice of leaders or leadership at any level is the ability to perform and not age. Performance and age are two different things.When a leader has performed or is performing, nobody cares about his age. What good leadership requires is strength of character, direction, focus, accountability, transparency and selfless service. It is not about age. The capacity or ability to perform or deliver on assigned responsibilities is the key factor.

Of utmost importance and requirement in the leadership recruitment process and choice is nothing but the capacity to deliver or perform, not age perse. That is the reason a visionary leader like Kogi State governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello has since assuming office continued to discover, recruit and support capable youths to occupy various elective and appointive positions in the state without compromising standard and quality.

It would be recalled that during his first term in office, most of his personal aides, some exco members, majority of development centre administrators and members, party officials at grassroots level and others were youths of remarkable capacity. For four years, these youths worked closely with the governor, they learnt a lot from him and other government officials about leadership, governance and its demands in a democracy like ours. Majority of these youths appreciated the governor’s unique gesture of giving them opportunity to serve at various capacities and levels in his government. That was the major reason they diligently worked for his reelection.

In choosing majority of these youths for appointive positions in his government, GYB never looked at their ages, where they come from or who are their relations, he considered their track record, experiences, maturity, capacity and knowledge, which he strongly believed would be of immense benefits and value to the state.

“Three  decades after the 1993 phenomenon, the new beckons. The present phenomenon like the former is indiscriminate of ethnicity, region and religion. The present phenomenon is concerned about competency and capacity over zoning and or rotation of power. The present phenomenon is the bastion of the Youth O’clock fervency, calling for a New deal and a new thinking. And the present phenomenon is the young man called Governor Yahaya Bello, GYB, who is interested in job creation and in the abolition of poverty as was Chief MKO Abiola of blessed memory.

“GYB stands for Inclusiveness and gender parity in governance. He is an example of responsible and responsive leadership. And clearly represents the collective aspiration of the Nigerian people for a nation where justice, equity, fairness and Inclusiveness is prime. He did it in the multi-religious, multilingual and multi-ethnic state of Kogi which is arguably the strategic microcosm of Nigeria, and he can replicate same in the macrocosm come 2023.

“In 2020 the Bridge Builder called GYB won The Sun Newspapers Apostle of Political Inclusiveness Award for his unrivalled commitment to gender parity, and for his bold inclusion and appointment of Young People to strategic leadership positions. With 43 years as the average age of the Kogi State cabinet do you wonder why GYB is the grail bearer of the call of the Nigerian People for new values in leadership.

“GYB is unarguably the bridge between the old and the young. As 2023 approaches the very popular refrain Youth O’Clock which represents the trust of the moment and the urgency of now resonates because GYB has thrown his hat in the ring to lead the challenge for a new Nigeria come 2023. In GYB the Youths have found their own, they have elected to identify with their own, and they are ready, willing, and able to reset Nigeria for good.

“The GYB phenomenon across the nation is the validation of the competency and the capacity of the Young Man who governs the Confluence State of Kogi. And Nigerians old and young are enamoured by the GYB magic. Do you know that in Kogi State GYB has a cabinet that includes Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Kanuri, et al. And do you know that since the creation of Kogi State, GYB though a Muslim was the only Governor to build a Chapel for Christians to worship in the Government House like their Muslim counterparts? Make no mistake, GYB is that broad thinking and urbane Bridge Builder that Nigeria needs come 2023.

“Need I emphasize the fact that GYB is the best Governor in Nigeria in the area of gender equality and youth Inclusiveness as recognized by a huge platform like the United Nations.

“Need I state that GYB has made Kogi State the safest State in the North and the second safest state in Nigeria? GYB is that consummate Chief Security Officer of his State who believes in the primacy of lives and property. GYB is competency and capacity combined.

“Need I tell you that GYB has made Lokoja the capital city of the Confluence State of Kogi one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa.

“Need I tell you that Kogi State under GYB is not owing workers and that Kogi State leads the pack in the record of States that pay Medical and Health Workers as at when due.

“Need I tell you that Kogi State under GYB boasts of one of the most  functional Rice Mills in Nigeria. The CONFLUENCE RICE mill with a Yoruba, Mr Segun Olonade as MD/CEO has over 5000 workers directly employed by it, and thousands of Rice Farmers across the nation as Suppliers”.

“Need I tell you that the Kogi State Agricultural Revolution scheme is second to none. And this reminds every student of the history of the FAREWELL TO POVERTY AND NO TO HUNGER trust of the MKO Abiola 1993 phenomenon. 30years (3 decades) after the GYB Phenomenon is with us, and 2023 shall witness a massive turnaround for good. GYB has done it in Kogi and he will do at the centre”.

“Need I tell you that Kogi State has one of the best Skill Acquisition and informal education programmatic which is key to creating jobs and making the seemingly unemployable employable”.

“Need I tell you that with the Kogi State share of the COVID-19 Palliative funds, GYB is 75% done building one of the biggest health facilities in West Africa in Kogi State and that no other Governor presently serving has achieved such feat”.

“Need I tell you that the Bridge Builder and the unifier called GYB was Chief to the truce that ended the food blockade between the North and the South in February”.

“Need I tell you that not long ago along with the Governors of the South West he was key to quelling the fulminating Fulani/Yoruba tiff in Oyo, Osun and the Ondo States”.

“Need I tell you that GYB is constantly reaching out to the leaders of the disparate ethnicities that people Nigeria, and that more than anything else underscores the wide support that attends his quest for the high office of President come 2023”.

“Need I tell you that the deluge of awards and honours that attend the GYB Phenomenon, and that the endorsements he garners across the nation are evidence of the acceptability and the credibility of the GYB brand. Without a modicum of doubt, I tell you Nigeria, that together with GYB we shall berth new dawn for our nation”.

“Finally, do not wonder why Youths across the nation root for GYB. Do not wonder why groups across the 6 geopolitical zones are enthused by the GYB Phenomenon. And do not wonder why GYB resonates across societal stratification. Please wonder why you still believe the falsehood of his detractors and naysayers, then do your research on the GYB Phenomenon, and repent. God Bless Nigeria”. He said.