Youth inclusion in governance is very important – Asa chairmanship aspirant, Gaddaf
Sulaimon Lekan Gadaff is a chairmanship aspirant of the All Progressive Congress APC, Asa Local Council Area, Kwara State. He speaks on Local Government autonomy in Nigeria, youths participation in politics, his blueprint, mission and likewise the aftermath of the EndSARS protest among other salient issues, in this interview with HALEEMAH SANNI.
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Overtime, there are growing demands for youth inclusion in governance, Do you see them (youth) performing any better?
The youths are ready and they have zero tolerance to any political party who is not ready to listen to them. Myself for example, I have represented the youth constituency in a very magnanimous way by adding a lot of value to the life of the people. People believe in me and started to defect from various parties to the All Progressive Congress because they found a young person who they can talk to and feel comfortable with. Yes, we youths will outperform the old politicians.
The EndSARS protest and the violence that followed is one that will be remembered for long in the nation’s history, what do you think the government and other stakeholders can do to prevent future recurrence?
Youth inclusion is very important most especially at the local government level because that is the closest government to the people. A charismatic and energetic youth must have seen trouble coming before it escalated. I pray we never see such mass hysteria in Nigeria again because EndSARS wasn’t all about police brutality alone but bad governance and youth agitation.
As a politician cum businessman that has traveled widely, what will you do differently as a Council Chairman in Kwara?
I have a blueprint and a fully ready proposal for a 3 point agenda that will enable the local council authorities perform better and Kwara government is already doing fine gradually at all ramifications but need more engagement with the party men and chieftain.
Now, Kwara has officially entered the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authorities already said the nation cannot withstand another economic shutdown, how do you think the government, both at the state and local level can effectively contain the virus spread and simultaneously manage the economy?
Most of the time, what we need to take care of, we rather blame it on the government. Yes, the Government has its role to play and likewise the people. The solution to the spread of the virus is in the hands of individuals by putting on facemasks, washing our hands with soap and water and avoiding crowded places.
Do you agree that Local Government in the country should have autonomy?
Yes, I agree because Local government involves a philosophical commitment to the idea of democratic participation in the governing process at the grassroots level. This implies legal and administrative decentralization of authority and power by a higher level of government to a lower community with a will of its own performing specific functions as with the national framework. Let me conclude by adding that that local government areas in Nigeria have a crucial role to play in the developmental process provided there is result-oriented management with a guaranteed operational authority supported by effective local participation.
As a businessman, what master plan can the government of Kwara state work on to make the state at par with Lagos, in terms of revenue generation.
We have a lot of master plans but different “strokes for different foes”. We can emulate Lagos state with their unique style banking business but Lagos state can’t operate the way we can operate in farming business because of our land mass. Meaning we have more advantages.
