The Chairman of the Ogun Youth Assembly, Habeeb Whyte, has urged Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to move beyond using young people as campaign tools and commit to genuine institutional youth inclusion in governance ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Ogun State.
Whyte, who is also the Deputy Coordinator of the Cityboy Movement in Ogun State, made the call in an open letter addressed to the senator on Sunday.
He described the current political moment as a “historic responsibility” for Yayi, who is widely regarded as a major political force in the state ahead of the next election cycle.
The youth leader lamented that despite accounting for more than half of the voting population, young people remain largely excluded from governance and decision-making structures.
“We represent over 52 percent of the voting population but control less than five percent of the decision-making machinery,” he said.
Whyte noted that previous advocacy efforts to establish a dedicated youth-focused ministry in Ogun State had yet to yield results, warning that youth participation would remain superficial without deliberate institutional reforms.
“A state that does not institutionalize youth leadership cannot sustainably secure its future,” he stated.
He described many Ogun youths as energetic, politically conscious, intellectually equipped and professionally competent, yet underutilised and underrepresented in governance, warning that their continued exclusion could erode trust in public institutions.
“A generation that is excluded from decision-making gradually loses faith in institutions. Where there is no deliberate inclusion, frustration fills the vacuum,” he added.
While commending Adeola for engaging young people politically and involving them in campaign structures, Whyte was emphatic that campaign inclusion must translate into governance opportunities.
“We do not want to be photocopy machine monitors or social media praise singers. We want to be Chief Operating Officers, Budget Analysts and Project Monitors in government,” he said.
Whyte called for the establishment of a Ministry or Commission for Youth Development, the creation of a leadership academy to train 500 young professionals annually and merit-based youth appointments across government. He also proposed that at least 30 per cent of cabinet appointments be reserved for professionals under the age of 45.
He further advocated a “Gateway to Work” initiative to connect unemployed graduates with internship and employment opportunities through partnerships with industries and community groups.
“The youth of Ogun State are not asking for a handout. We are asking for a handshake,” Whyte added.
“The future cannot be built by recycling political convenience. It must be built by empowering capacity,” he stated.
The open letter comes on the heels of Yayi’s adoption as the APC’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was announced at a state strategic caucus meeting presided over by the state party chairman, Yemi Sanusi, and held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta in April.
Following the announcement, Yayi picked up the N50 million APC governorship nomination forms for the 2027 Ogun state election.
