JUST IN: Don’t leave ministerial nominations to governors, group tells Tinubu

A support group of All Progressives Congress has urged President Bola Tinubu not to depend on state governors for the nomination of his ministers.

The group also appealed to the president to consider appointing a young person of 35 years and below as the next minister of youth and sports development.

The appeal is coming two days after the Senate denied having the ministerial list allegedly sent from the presidency.

The ministerial list of the president has generated speculations in the past weeks among Nigerians.

A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the National Chairman of National Renewed Hope Youth Ambassadors, Haruna Sardauna, however, warned that leaving the responsibility of selecting ministers to state governors and allies could create problems for the president.

Sardauna also urged Tinubu to follow the precedence of heads of state like General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, General Yakubu Gowon, General Muhammad Buhari, and General Ibrahim Babangida, whose administrations appointed qualified youths to important positions.

He said, “Our observation shows that leaving the nomination of ministers in the hands of governors and other stakeholders will only continue to sideline the youths. They prefer nominating elderly people who find it difficult to involve young persons in governance. Even in the immediate past administration of former President Muhammad Buhari, all eight years of administration did not recognise youth in the cabinet, even the Minister of Youth appointed was above 50 years

“Youth marginalisation began in 1999 when PDP took power, all their 16 wasted years of leadership ended up ruining the youth interest. We could recall that during the past military administrations, the Heads of State were below 40 years. General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, General Yakubu Gowon, General Muhammad Buhari and General Ibrahim Babangida. Their administration mostly favoured youths and they appointed them to occupy sensitive positions but now the democratic situation is not favoring the youth.

“It is our prayer that Mr. President will critically look into our demand for appointing 35 year old and below as ministers. We believe he can. We are fully confident in his administration and pledge our continued loyalty. We similarly appeal to Mr. President to come up with a law that will sustain the appointment of those under 35 years to become Minister of Youth and Sports in the Country. We want to use this forum to appeal to our charismatic president, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to carry the youths along in his cabinet. Nominating one youth from each of the geopolitical zone will go a long way in doing away with conflict of interest between young persons and governors’ anointed nominees.”