Youth Exclusion from Governor Fintiri’s Cabinet in Adamawa Sparks Concerns, Says Group
In Adamawa State, a youth group has raised concerns about the exclusion of young individuals from the state’s executive council by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri.
The Movement for Progressive Adamawa Youths held a news briefing in Yola on Monday, during which they accused the governor of employing a strategy that they referred to as “use-and-dump.”
The group’s convener, Zubairu Abubakar, emphasized the significance of the youth demographic within the population. He expressed disappointment that despite the support provided by the youth in helping Governor Fintiri achieve his political aspirations, they have been sidelined in the decision-making processes of the state.
Abubakar said, “Some weeks ago, a sociopolitical and youth advocacy group raised a very important issue on the need to have young and fresh minds who are between the ages of 25 and 39 years in the cabinet of His Excellency. It is a call our group saw as worth taking into consideration by the governor.
“The governor paid deaf ears to this call, ignoring the reality that the youths of Adamawa State will forever remain the foundation upon which the prosperity of the state will be built.”
He emphasized his group’s disappointment over the governor’s omission of individuals aged 25 to 39 from his list of nominees who eventually assumed roles as commissioners.
He further stated that the group’s insistence on advocating for youthful representation in Governor Fintiri’s administration was not driven by personal interests but rather by the desire for the overall benefit of the state.
In response, Mr. Humwashi Wonosikou, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Fintiri, refuted the allegations, deeming them as untrue.
“Fintiri could not deliberately disenfranchise youths from partaking in his government,” Wonosikou asserted.
He mentioned that there are already numerous young individuals within the cabinet, and he expressed confusion regarding why the youth group chose to disregard these youthful cabinet members, unless the individuals they had in mind were deemed unsuitable by the concerned youth.
