By Boluwaji Obahopo

LOKOJA—Kogi State government has said its policy of appointing young people into political offices was not meant to relegate and forcefully retire the old, but to inject new blood that could drive the much-needed change in the state.

The Chief of Staff to the governor, Edward Onoja, said this yesterday in Lokoja, while speaking at a symposium with the theme The past, the new direction and the political future of Kogi State, organised by the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters to mark the 25th anniversary of the creation of the state.

Delivering his paper, entitled Youth Governance Prospects, Onoja said Yahaya Bello-led government made it a policy to engage young and vibrant individuals that had the wherewithal to drive its ‘New Direction’ programme.

He explained that the move was to positively direct their energy towards the development of the state and not only useful as political thugs or agents of crisis.

He, however, lamented that in the past, government was run on tribal sentiments where some political positions were exclusively reserved for certain ethnic groups in a state that had over 10 tribes.

He said the present administration was desirous of unifying the people, calling on the elders in the state to maintain their role as fathers of the state and stop using the youth as thugs.

Also, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, Chief Samuel Aro, has advised the governor to run an all inclusive government to foster unity of purpose among the people, irrespective of their political affiliation.