By Euclid Myke, Abuja
The controversy surrounding the tenure of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has been laid to rest as the Forum of State Chairmen reaffirmed that the tenure of the council president, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo will expire in September 2025.
The forum issued a stern warning to individuals impersonating its National Executive and declared any leadership activities not authorized by Sukubo illegal and threatened legal action against those involved.
Rising from a meeting recently held in Ibadan, Oyo State, the 36 state chairmen and their FCT counterpart “reaffirmed the Sukubo-led National Executive as the only constitutionally recognised leadership of the Council, dismissing a purported National Management Meeting convened by impostors as null, void, and aimed at destabilising the youth constituency for financial gains.”
In the communiqué read by the Chairman of the Forum who doubles as the Oyo State Chairman of NYCN, Abdulsalam Abdulquadr, the Forum declared as illegal, null, and void a purported National Management Meeting called by some impostors led one Solomon Adodo.
The Forum clarified that only the Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo-led National Executive of NYCN is empowered by its constitution to call for National Management Meeting.
The communiqué, accused the impostors of deliberately undermining the authority and legitimacy of the Amb. Sukubo-led National Executive for financial gains and also to create confusion within the youth constituency.
The Forum alleged that the intention of the impostors is to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, damage the reputation of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, hinder its effectiveness in serving Nigerian youth, and ultimately cause crisis and instability in the youth constituency of the country.
The Chairmen’s Forum of NYCN also urged its national leadership to consider taking lawful action in line with its constitution against the impostors and those running parallel structures in the Youth Council so as to protect the legitimacy, reputation, and effectiveness of the nation’s apex youth body.
The Communique read in part, “The purported National Management Meeting called by some impostors is in total disregard of the Constitution of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and is therefore null and void.
“We strongly warn against any action that would undermine the authority and legitimacy of the Amb. Sukubo-led National Executive of NYCN, as such actions would be detrimental to the mission and objectives of the National Youth Council.
“We reiterate that until the tenure of Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo elapses in September 2025, he remains the only legitimate incumbent President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria.
“We align with the constitutional provision of NYCN for the forthcoming National Elective Congress slated for September this year, while urging that the process must be open, transparent, and inclusive for all.
“The Forum of State Chairmen of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) also expressed profound appreciation to the Minister of Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, for his youth-friendly initiatives and commitment to youth development and empowerment.
“The initiatives include the proposed National Youth Conference, the establishment of the Nigeria Youth Academy, and the implementation of the Youth Data Protection Awareness Program, among others.
The Chairmen’s Forum of the National Youth Council of Nigeria also announced the establishment of Peace and Conflict Resolution Committees, one in each of the six geopolitical zones of the country.
According to the Forum, “The committee will serve as platforms to receive and address complaints arising from leadership disputes as well as investigate pending and emerging issues, and resolve conflicts timely, effectively and fairly.
“The Forum expressed confidence that the committees will play a crucial role in promoting peace, stability, and unity within the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the broader youth constituency.”
