Nigerian youths residing in Lagos were on Saturday dazzled by the Vice-Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Professor Yemi Osinbajo at a town hall meeting held in Ikeja, the state capital.
The youths who are in their 20’s and early 30’s had filled expansive Nelos Place Event Centre, venue of the meeting waiting patiently for the arrival of their host. Osinbajo who arrived at about 4pm was welcomed into the hall by the elated youths who were eager to hear him.
According to the organizers, over 1000 questions had been submitted by those who registered online for the event but only 15 will be entertained because of time.
The questions he fielded include ;Would there be reduction in jumbo salaries of political office holders to free funds for development, practical measures to curb growing unemployment in the country, steps to be taken in fight against insurgency, how to ensure probity and accountability in government; Growing the economy amidst dwindling oil revenue and Naira devaluation among other crucial questions.
Osinbajo expressed gratitude to the youths who had turn out in their hundreds for the event stressing that the 2015 elections was about them.
On the jumbo pay for political office holders especially the National Assembly members, the professor of law said the issue should be viewed from the prism of law. He noted that a statutory body( The Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission) was in charge of fixing salaries for political office holders adding that the APC government will only ensured that arbitrary allocation of frivolous allowances which were not captured by the RMFC will be stopped.
He also expressed confidence that members of the party in the National Assembly will see reason in why their jumbo should be reviewed downward.
He also hinted that creation of employment opportunities was the focus of the party. According to him, every policy of the party is geared towards employment creation. Citing an example of the proposed a meal per day for all primary school pupils nationwide, Osinbajo said the social programme while it will encourage more enrolment into schools, it will create jobs for farmers, caterers and other people who will serve along the value chain.
Osinbajo added that another strategy to rescue millions from unemployment was skills acquisition; he said that apart from the stipends which will be given to unemployed graduates for a period of one year, the party will also established Centre For Power Training modeled after Lagos Power Academy where manpower will be trained for the power sector.
On corruption, Osinbajo disclosed that the APC government will descend heavily on the menace. He said what the Presidential Candidate of the Party, General Muhammadu Buhari had going on for him was integrity adding that once the massive looting that characterized the Jonthan administration halted, more funds would be freed for developmental projects.
Asked if he indeed sworn to an oath to relinquished office after six months for the National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the pastor turned politician described the insinuation as ‘non-sensical’ asking what would be the basis for such action. He asked, “Is it money , I am a Senior Advocate of Nigeria for God’s sake” .
The APC Vice-presidential candidate posited that he had never into a negotiation with anybody in his life adding that opportunity to serve and bring sanity to Nigeria had always been paramount to him.
