Claims of political interference in the selection of Osun State's delegates for the upcoming National Youth Conference have been firmly rebutted by the Commissioner for Youth Affairs, Hon. Olagunju Moshood Olalekan, who has emphasized the process was guided solely by national directives—not politics.
A member of a youth group, Jide Alabi, recently accused the Commissioner of attempting to politicize the delegate list. However, these claims have been described by the Commissioner as misleading and unfounded.
Hon. Olagunju clarified that the compilation of names was conducted transparently, with inputs requested from relevant organizations. The subsequent adjustments, he explained, were in response to a nationwide mandate from the Federal Ministry of Youth, which requires a strict 50:50 gender representation among delegates.
“We had no option but to make some substitutions to comply with Abuja’s directive,” he stated. “Unfortunately, some groups were unable to nominate female representatives, which left us with little choice.”
The Commissioner said he personally reached out to the organizations in question to explain the situation. “I even asked the complainant to submit a female nominee, but he admitted he didn’t have one. What more can I do? The priority is to follow the national policy and ensure fairness.”
He reiterated that the goal is to promote inclusivity and genuine youth representation, and condemned what he called an attempt to politicize a constitutional requirement aimed at empowering both male and female youth across the state.
Observers have praised the Commissioner’s transparency and strict adherence to national standards, noting that ensuring gender balance should not be misrepresented as a political move.
