A fresh crisis is brewing in Osun State between the Commissioner for Youths Affairs, Moshood Olagunju and the state chapter of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, CCNC.

This is as the CCNC accused Olagunju of favouritism, secrecy, and mismanagement in the selection process for the National Youth Conference (Confab) committee.

In a statement signed by CCNC Chairman, Akinkunmi Musa Abdulsalam, the group alleged that the Commissioner had consistently sidelined youth organisations that played a central role in recent activism, particularly those involved in the protests which led to the Federal Government’s decision to hold the National Youth Confab.

The group accused Olagunju of excluding its male representative, who was originally submitted by the CCNC, insisting that the Commissioner has shown a pattern of selecting only his associates or persons favourable to his camp.

Abdulsalam said, “The Commissioner’s selection process was done behind closed doors, without consultation, transparency or fairness. Genuine comrades who fought for this cause were deliberately left out. The Commissioner’s actions suggest a clear attempt to hijack the process for personal or political gain.

“Instead of recognising those who engaged the public and stakeholders in the state’s interest, the Commissioner is forcing individuals who never participated in the advocacy process onto the committee.”

The CCNC also raised concerns over alleged collaboration between the Commissioner and a Personal Assistant to the State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, who they claimed has overstayed in office by eight years.

They described this as an unholy alliance used to perpetrate questionable dealings within the Osun State Ministry of Youth Affairs.

“The Ministry is fast becoming a personal empire where only loyalists are considered for opportunities, to the detriment of the wider youth constituency,” the coalition stated.

The group insisted that the matter went beyond gender representation, reiterating that the Commissioner was trying to rewrite history by excluding those who made the Confab possible.

While urging Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and ensure that the process is corrected, the group described the current path as explosive and a potential cause of civil unrest among the youth.

“The Governor must act now. The youths are becoming restless, and the situation must be managed before it escalates.

“Any representative who did not participate in advocacy would lack the moral authority to speak on behalf of Osun youth at the national level,” the group added.

They called for a full disclosure of the selection criteria and demanded inclusion in every phase of planning and representation.

Responding to these allegations, Olagunju defended the Ministry’s actions, stating that all decisions were taken in line with directives from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Abuja.

According to the Commissioner, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports later demanded a 50/50 gender representation, which affected the initial nominations submitted by several states, including Osun.

“I was instructed to submit eight names, with the ninth slot being an automatic inclusion. This is not a list of beneficiaries but committee members to guide the Confab.

“During a Zoom meeting with all 36 state Commissioners of Youths, I challenged the sudden change to the 70/30 gender ratio arrangement.

“We were told it was a ministerial directive. The Osun State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and the National Association of Nigerian Students submitted female names accordingly,” Olagunju stated.

The Commissioner added that CCNC was contacted and asked to submit a female representative, but they declined, insisting on retaining their initial male nominee.

He maintained that CCNC’s refusal to comply demonstrated a hidden agenda.

“To convince them, I sent them Ekiti State’s list as proof that other states complied. Instead of complying, they started threatening me and claimed I was manipulating the process.

“They said they had no female members. I told them to nominate anyone, even if it was a girlfriend. I needed to fulfil and meet up with the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports’ directive,” he stated.

The Commissioner, who said the state’s participation would not be hindered by one group, stressed that the state will not be held back because of CCNC’s intransigence.

“Another group will be picked if necessary,” he maintained.

He accused CCNC of attempting to blackmail him and revealed that he had alerted security agencies following threats of planned protests at his office on Monday.

He maintained that no favouritism was involved and that the CCNC’s exclusion was due to their refusal to meet the gender requirement, not because of any personal vendetta.

Olagunju, however, insisted that the process was transparent and aligned with federal expectations.

“Let them contact the Minister of Youth directly to confirm the directive,” he said.

The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, directs the immediate and indefinite suspension of Mr. Mkor Aondona, Special Adviser on Documentation, Research, and Planning, following his arrest by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in sextortion, cyberbullying, and blackmail.

The Governor’s decision is in line with his unwavering commitment to uphold integrity, discipline, and accountability in public service.

He says any official of his administration found wanting in matters of criminality or ethical misconduct will face the full weight of the law.

While assuring the public that the law will take its full course without interference or bias, the Governor states clearly that his administration will not tolerate any act that brings the government into disrepute or undermines public trust.

He points out that public office is a call to serve with honour, transparency, and responsibility, and anyone who deviates from this path will have no place in his government.

The suspended aide is expected to submit himself fully to the legal process to answer to the grave allegations levelled against him.

The Government of Benue State under the administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia remains committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens, especially women and vulnerable groups, and will continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure justice is served.

Tersoo Kula, mnipr

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently refer the situation in Benue and other states to the International Criminal Court, ICC, for the court to exercise its jurisdiction over the violeence and unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in the state.

SERAP says referring the Benue situation to the International Criminal Court, ICC, would demonstrate Tinubu’s commitment to combating human rights crisis in the state.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Professor James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and the state’s paramount ruler had Told Tinubu during his visit that the attacks in Benue were calculated, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits, which has been going on for decades.

In a letter dated 21 June 2025 and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “Your government has a primary responsibility to ensure accountability and justice and reparations for grave human rights crimes.”

“Referring the situation in Benue state to the ICC would contribute to achieving your expressed commitment to ‘hunt down the perpetrators of the attacks and bring them to justice, deliver justice for victims and restore peace in the state.’”

“Accountability for these brutal mass killings is urgently needed, regardless of whether the perpetrators are state-actors or non-state actors or both.”

“Any reluctance to refer the situation in Benue to the ICC would continue to embolden perpetrators—state actors and non-state actors alike to continue to attack the people of the state with impunity. Many of those responsible for these brutal attacks have continued to evade justice.”

“Given the alleged complicity of state actors in the situation in Benue and other states witnessing cases of serious human rights violations and crimes under international law, domestic avenues have shown to be both insufficient and inadequate to achieve accountability and justice to the victims and their families,” among others.