Youth in the Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on the state government to put in place comprehensive security measures to ensure that no educational institution or community in the state becomes a permanent victim of insecurity.

The demand comes on the heels of the recent release of abducted residents of Woro and Nuku communities in the state by bandits.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin to mark the International Youth Day, the youth, led by the state PDP Youth Leader, Adio Friday Odunjo, hailed security agencies for the recent rescue of about 167 kidnap victims in the state.

However, the youth said that, “rescue must not be the end of the story. Rescue must be followed by rehabilitation, justice, prevention, and institutional learning, so that we do not find ourselves confronting the same tragedy again”.

They also condemned continued academic disruptions among schools in the state, while lamenting the continued closure of the State School of Nursing, Oke Ode in Kwara South; relocation of the NYSC orientation camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government, to Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin; temporary closure and eventual merger of Kwara State College of Education, Oro, with its Ilorin counterpart; and the merger of more than four schools into one for the recent NECO examination due to insecurity.

Odunjo, who said that insecurity must not become the new normal in the state, added that, “every school closure caused by insecurity must have a clearly communicated security plan, academic support programme and safe reopening strategy.

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The youth, who said that they were not asking the government to perform miracles, added that, “We are asking for responsible leadership, measurable action and transparent governance. Where the state government requires federal support, it should aggressively pursue it. Where communities need protection, the stale must coordinate effectively with federal security agencies. Where young people need jobs, government must create opportunities. Where public
funds are spent, citizens must be able to track them. Where teachers have legitimate concerns, government must listen. Where institutions are closed because of insecurity, government must
provide a clear pathway to safe reopening and where citizens ask questions, government must
answer. That is what democracy requires”.

The PDP youth also admonished youths in the state against political apathy, saying that they should not allow anyone to convince them that politics is only about elections.

“Politics is about whether your community is safe. It is about
whether you can attend school safely. It is about whether you can find decent employment. It is about whether public money is properly spent. It is about whether government listens when citizens speak and it is about whether the leaders we elect are accountable for their actions and decisions.

“International Youth Day reminds us of something very important: Young people are not merely leaders of tomorrow. We are stakeholders today. We have a right to participate. We have a right to ask questions. We have a right to demand accountability and we have a responsibility to contribute constructively to the developrment of our state. We will therefore continue to demand responsible governance peacefully, constitutionally and intelligently”.