There is palpable tension in Ogun State as students leaders and contestants in the state National Youth Council of Nigeria election in Ogun State, Lanre Mosaku, are kicking against the ambition of an officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Comrade Abduljabar Ayelaagbe, to become the Ogun State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN).
The atmosphere became more tensed when Ogun State Commandant for the NSCDC, Hammed Abodunrin, said even if an officer of the corps would participate in any community development activity, it must not get to the extent of contesting in an election that generates issues; promising to investigate Ayelaagbe.
At a press conference held on Saturday in Abeokuta, Mosaku, who is the only candidate contesting with Ayelaagbe said the NSCDC personnel shouldn’t not be allowed to contest on two grounds.
The aggrieved youths, who have earlier petitioned the NSCDC, the Nigeria Police, the Directorate of State Security and other agencies, vowed to stop Ayelaagbe from contesting in the NYCN election in Ogun State.
The separate petitions, copies of which were made available to DAILY POST on Friday were signed by the Chairman, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Ogun JCC, Bamgbose Tomiwa Peters; the Public Relations Officer, National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS); Olasunkanmi Ijaduoye; the Chairman, Ijebu Youth Association, Yahya Odunuga and Comrade Lanre Mosaku.
In the petitions, the youth alleged that Ayelaagbe, who is the current State Secretary of the youth council, did not deserve to participate in “any political or union activities” as a result of his job.
They also accused him of age falsification, saying “he was born in 1983 and not 1985.”
“Abduljabir Aiyelaagbe claimed to be born in the year 1985 even when we have documents showing that he was born in 1983.
“To further confirm this, the ministry of youths and sports can be contacted for his documents, having held positions in the National Youths Council of Nigeria since 2011.” they said.
In their petition to the NSCDC, they said, “We write not just to inform you of an intending violation of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps but to as well get you acquainted of the move by one of your officers to violate our rules and your rules, and in turn set a bad precedent in our noble youth group in the state.
“The man in question, Abduljabar Ayelaagbe, is a Civil Defence Officer and he wants to be the next Chairman of the NYCN, even when the service rule does not give room for a serving officer to partake in political or union activities.”
“Sequel to the above reasons, the above-named aspirant stands unqualified for this important position as this council remains important in the project of building well-cultured youths for the survival of the country.”
To this end, the students’ leaders said Ayelaagbe must not be allowed to contest in today’s election; alleging that “his candidacy will amount to illegality which is capable of hunting us as a people in the nearest possible future.”
When contacted, the Ogun State Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Hammed Abodunrin said that he had received a copy of the petition in regard to the accusation, saying the Corps will investigate it.
Abodunrin said the rules of engagement does not forbid officer from partaking in communal activities, but not to the extent of contesting for position with issues being raised.
