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Plateau Youth Parliament Holds Inaugural Sitting, Prioritizes Security and Youth Empowerment
The Plateau State Youth Council Parliament held its historic inaugural sitting on Monday, marking a new era of youth inclusion and legislative engagement in the state. Speaker Rt. Hon. Amos Aseno set a visionary tone in his opening address, calling on members to rise as champions of transformative change.
In his welcoming remarks, Speaker Aseno said, “My colleagues, it gives me profound gratitude and deep sense of purpose to welcome each and every one of you to this historic inaugural sitting of the Plateau Youth Council Parliament Central Working Committee. We gather not only as representatives of our constituencies, but as torchbearers of a renewed vision for Plateau.”
He praised the commitment of the principal officers for their dedication to state-first ideals and commended the full participation of members in a recent retreat, which he described as a “collective awakening.” According to Aseno, “It was a moment that reminded us of the urgent need for a youth-led movement driven by integrity, intelligence, and innovation.”
He further extended appreciation to the Executive Chairman and leadership of Jos South Local Government Area for making the legislative chamber available, calling it “a symbolic gesture of inclusion and a reaffirmation that the future of governance must involve young people.”
Speaker Aseno emphasized the enormous challenges confronting youths today—rising insecurity, unemployment, drug abuse, and alienation—and urged the parliament to rise as agents of transformation. “We must initiate and support bills and motions that directly speak to economic empowerment, educational reform, security collaboration, and youth entrepreneurship. The time for empty promises is over,” he said.
He also called on youths to embrace responsible dialogue and social media usage, rejecting ethnic profiling and divisive narratives that further isolate the state. “Let us project Plateau positively. Let us tell stories of resilience and resourcefulness to attract investment and opportunities,” he added.
In a strong show of purpose, the inaugural sitting immediately addressed one of the most pressing issues in Plateau—security.
Hon. Goewam Ladat Joseph, representing Quan’pan, moved the first motion on the floor, focusing on the security situation across the state. “It has become a known challenge to all well-meaning Plateau citizens. I’m grateful that the Speaker prioritized this motion due to its urgency,” he said.
The motion, categorized as one of urgent public importance, called for increased security presence and support for local security outfits like vigilantes and Operation Rainbow.
Joseph stressed that insecurity has direct consequences on the farming season. “It is only he who is secure that can go to his farm. Our people are living in fear due to kidnappings. Without security, economic development is impossible,” he noted.
He urged the state government, in collaboration with federal authorities, to ramp up efforts in securing local communities to ensure a fruitful farming season and broader economic stability.
Also speaking, Mahwash Dakol James, PYC Chairman of Bokkos LGA and CWC member, moved a motion drawing attention to repeated attacks in his local government. “This is a cry from our people. I’ve attended over ten security meetings this year alone. I even submitted a petition to the DIG of Police more than a month ago. Yet, nothing has been done,” he lamented.
He warned that the patience of the youth is wearing thin, stating that the community has consistently restrained from retaliatory actions, hoping for government intervention. “We are still calling on the government to act fast,” he added.
Mahwash clarified that the conflict in Bokkos is not religious, but stems from land disputes involving settlers and indigenous communities. “They are attempting to forcefully take over our ancestral lands. Our traditions are at risk, and even the cultural objectives of the Plateau Youth Council are being threatened,” he said.
He called for the immediate halt of what he described as an encroachment, stating that while freedom of movement is a right, it must not infringe on local peace. “For now, we don’t have peace in Bokkos, and freedom of movement should be restricted in that context,” he emphasized.
In his response, Speaker Rt. Hon. Amos Aseno underscored the importance of the motions raised, particularly on security, which he said has generated widespread concern among the youth and across the Plateau citizenry.
He affirmed the parliament’s readiness to address pressing issues affecting the state and reiterated the council’s commitment to serving as a proactive legislative arm for Plateau youth.
“Let our legacy be one of impact, not just presence,” Aseno concluded.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has received the All Progressives Congress, APC, flag as its governorship candidate for Benue State ahead of the 2027 election during the Tinubu/Shettima rally in Jos over the weekend.
The presentation of the flag by the APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, represents a formal affirmation of Governor Alia's recognition and acceptance by the party as its standard-bearer in Benue State for the forthcoming governorship election, as well as an expression of the party's confidence and institutional backing for his second-term bid.
The presentation formed part of the rally's activities, during which APC governorship candidates from across the North-Central region received their respective party flags, reaffirming the party's commitment to its candidates as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
The rally, held at the Zaria Road Stadium, attracted prominent national and regional political leaders, including First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, APC governors, members of the party's National Working Committee and other stakeholders.
President Tinubu, who led the national delegation to the rally, reiterated his administration's commitment to national development, particularly the restoration of peace and security in communities affected by violence.
He assured the people of Plateau State of the Federal Government's commitment to rebuilding communities affected by insurgency and facilitating the safe return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes.
The Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio also addressed the gathering, highlighting the administration's development initiatives and calling for support for the APC in the forthcoming elections.
The rally attracted party faithful, supporters, and political stakeholders from across the North-Central region, providing a platform for the party's leadership to reaffirm its commitment to the 2027 electoral process.
Edo State Commissioner for Information, Kassim Afegbua, has criticised the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, describing him as a “public nuisance” and questioning his capacity to build a nationwide political structure.
Afegbua made the remarks during an interview on Arise News while reacting to Sowore’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu following the booing of the President by some youths in Abuja on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Sowore had accused Tinubu of hypocrisy, questioning why the President was now advocating peaceful political campaigns after experiencing hostility during his visit to the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, Garki, Abuja.
The incident occurred shortly after Tinubu attended Juma’at prayers at the mosque, where some youths were heard chanting “Ba ma yi, ba ma so”, a Hausa expression meaning “We don't want you” or “We don't support you”, as his convoy departed.
In a reaction posted on his X account, Sowore questioned the President's silence over alleged attacks on opposition politicians and their supporters across the country.
However, Afegbua dismissed Sowore's comments, arguing that someone aspiring to lead the country should demonstrate maturity, responsibility and decorum in public engagements.
“I don't want to listen to all of Sowore's rants because I see him more as a public nuisance,” the commissioner said.
He added that presidential candidates must understand the responsibility associated with seeking to lead a country of more than 250 million people.
“Leadership is a serious responsibility, and you cannot go around making flippant, ridiculous and reckless statements in the name of presenting yourself as a presidential candidate,” Afegbua stated.
He maintained that political ambition should be accompanied by a reasonable level of discipline, insisting that candidates must conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the position they seek to occupy.
The Edo commissioner also questioned Sowore's political reach, describing him as someone who fills a gap in Nigeria's political aspirations rather than a candidate with the organisational capacity to compete effectively nationwide.
According to Afegbua, establishing a functional political structure across all 774 local government areas would be a major challenge for the AAC presidential candidate.
He, however, acknowledged that politicians like Sowore play a role in expressing public frustration and providing an avenue for citizens to communicate their opinions.
Afegbua also defended Tinubu's call for adequate security for presidential candidates, arguing that the President's statement after the Abuja incident was consistent with an earlier directive to security agencies.
He said Tinubu had, two or three weeks before the mosque incident, instructed the Department of State Services, DSS, and other security agencies to ensure that all presidential candidates received adequate protection.
According to him, the President's latest remarks should therefore not be interpreted as a reaction prompted solely by the hostility he experienced in Abuja.
Afegbua further argued that Tinubu's political background gave him considerable experience in political struggles, noting that the President had faced difficult circumstances during his years in opposition.
He nevertheless stressed that occupying the presidency requires a broader sense of responsibility beyond party interests.
“President Tinubu is not just a member of the party. He's also the leader of the entire country,” he said, adding that the President has demonstrated that every Nigerian belongs, irrespective of political affiliation.
2027: Afegbua attacks Sowore over reaction to attack on Tinubu in Abuja mosque
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