Victor Abisoye

At least APC youths are no longer just being asked to work for the party; some are now being recognised and rewarded for their efforts. And somehow, even that has become a problem! It is a classic case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t. For those suddenly shouting about hunger in the land, when exactly has Nigeria been free of hunger? Was it during the years when the PDP-led government struggled to pay salaries and states were borrowing to meet their obligations? Or when Nigerians faced serious difficulties using their naira cards for international transactions? Let’s be honest: Nigeria has serious economic challenges, but our national story did not begin in 2023. We must be able to discuss today’s difficulties without pretending that yesterday was a paradise. Now, because Dayo Israel has reportedly rewarded some young people who have worked hard for their party, the outrage is deafening. Why? Yes, Nigerians are struggling. Nobody should dismiss that reality. But does that mean every act of rewarding someone, celebrating an achievement or recognising service must automatically become a national controversy? What exactly are we telling young people who dedicate their time, energy and, in some cases, personal safety to supporting a political party? Are they not entitled to be rewarded for their work? Is providing a vehicle to facilitate their duties automatically an offence? Must every benefit be reserved for the political elite while the young people doing the groundwork are expected to keep sacrificing without recognition? If we expect young people to organise, mobilise, campaign and defend their party, should we not also encourage a culture that recognises their contributions? And why must celebrating young people become controversial simply because they belong to the APC? The same energy used to criticise Dayo Israel should also be applied to examining his youth engagement programmes, the conversations he is having with young Nigerians and the initiatives he shares publicly. If there is something wrong, let us discuss the facts. But criticism should not become a permanent campaign of condemnation in which nothing positive is ever acknowledged. You cannot demand youth participation in politics and then act shocked when those youths expect recognition and reward. Nigeria’s economic challenges deserve serious attention. But those challenges should not be weaponised selectively against individuals whenever the opportunity presents itself. APC youths are also Nigerians. They have ambitions, needs and aspirations. They deserve opportunities, recognition and the chance to benefit from their own hard work. The question is not whether Nigerians are hungry. The question is whether acknowledging the hardship Nigerians face means we must condemn every effort to reward young people for their service. Let us have an honest conversation, not selective outrage. It is enough. Esther Oyeyinka writes from Abuja