Labake-of-buj™️🦅

Dear Senator Adams Oshiomhole: Empowering Youth Leadership Is Investing in the APC’s Future Dear Senator Adams Oshiomhole, There was a time in Nigeria’s political history when your name represented the voice and aspirations of ordinary Nigerian workers. As President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, you established yourself as a formidable mobiliser who understood that effective leadership required taking the struggle to the people, building solidarity and challenging limitations. Your experience in organised labour demonstrated that influence is earned through the ability to connect with people, inspire collective action and champion a cause beyond familiar boundaries. It is against this background that the conversation surrounding Hon. Dayo Israel, the APC National Youth Leader, deserves a broader perspective. Since assuming office, Dayo has worked to strengthen the party’s relationship with young Nigerians by taking youth engagement beyond conventional election-time mobilisation. Through engagements with youth organisations, students, communities and other groups across the country, he has continued to promote participation in the APC and communicate the policies and vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. His approach recognises an important political reality: a party that seeks the loyalty of young Nigerians must do more than invite them to rallies during elections. It must engage them consistently, give them a sense of belonging and create opportunities for meaningful participation. This is an important dimension of Dayo’s contribution to the party. Senator, your own history as a labour leader offers a useful lesson. You did not build your influence by confining your activities to a particular workplace or limiting your advocacy to one geographical area. You understood that organised labour derived its strength from nationwide solidarity, broad engagement and the ability to mobilise people around common interests. That same principle should apply to youth leadership in the APC. A National Youth Leader must be able to engage at the grassroots while maintaining a national outlook. These responsibilities are complementary, not contradictory. Suggesting that Dayo should restrict his activities to his ward or polling unit overlooks the national character of the office he occupies and the wider responsibilities that come with it. It is also worth acknowledging that political disagreements and changes in administrative arrangements should not erase an individual’s contributions. Despite reported adjustments to campaign council responsibilities, Dayo’s commitment to the party’s mobilisation efforts has remained evident. His value to the APC should ultimately be assessed by his contributions, capacity and willingness to serve. As the party looks towards the 2027 general elections, it needs a youth leadership structure capable of connecting with a generation whose political expectations are changing. Young Nigerians want to be heard, represented and included in decisions that shape their future. Dayo’s national platform, networks and experience in youth engagement provide the APC with an opportunity to deepen that connection. Senator, your political journey demonstrates the importance of giving people the space to exercise their capacity and build influence. The next generation of political leaders deserves that same opportunity. Constructive criticism has its place, but it should be accompanied by an appreciation of the work being done and an understanding of the responsibilities attached to leadership. The more productive conversation, therefore, is not about limiting Dayo Israel’s reach but about how the party can better harness his experience and mobilisation capacity for its collective success.