* Am I also a youth? – Ex-Minister

* United front, one voice, our aim – BYF

 

There is palpable tension in Bonny Local Government Area as the Bonny Youths Federation (BYF) and the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF) disagree on the amendment of the BYF constitution that seeks to subsume the latter under the former.

 

The leadership of both bodies was at loggerheads over certain sections of the BYF constitution which were being amended to illegally integrate the BGF as an affiliate or chapter under it.

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Leader of BYF, Simeon Wilcox was said to have rebuffed the advice of titled citizens in the area, including a former Minister of Housing, Amal Pepple, a former Commissioner of Finance, Israel Tuotamuno Williams, among others to expunge sections 79, 80 and 81 of the BYF constitution that seeks to subsume the BGF under it.

 

The contentious Section 79, 80, and 81 of Bonny Youths Federation (BYF) constitution, which intends to transform it into “Bonny Youths Assembly” with omnibus control over all other youth bodies in Bonny LGA, reads:

 

“1) The Assembly shall create and accommodate i) affiliate units and ii) chapters for the Assembly.

 

2) The affiliate units mentioned in section 79 (1) (i) shall include bodies such as the Bonny Graduate Forum (BGF), the National Union of Bonny Students (NUBS) and other organized body and organizations of Bonny Kingdom Youths within and outside the Kingdom, as maybe ratified by the youth congress.

 

3) POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE AFFILIATE UNIT(S) OF THE ASSEMBLY

 

(a) The affiliate units shall have powers to enact byelaws to regulate and direct its own proceedings. Provided that such byelaw(s) shall be subject to the provision of this constitution.

 

(b) Where such byelaw(s) made by the affiliate unit(s) is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, such byelaw(s) shall be null and void.

 

(c) The chapter(s) shall enjoy the right of having two (2) representatives of the unit(s) to attend any congress as observer without a right to vote and be voted for in such congress or election of the Assembly except such a representative(s) come through one of the 34 Chieftaincy House/Perekule Royal House to the Assembly. However, such a representative maybe availed the floor of congress to contribute or initiate an idea for the progress of the Assembly or Bonny Kingdom at large. Provided that such chapter(s) have been inducted by the assembly in a congress.(d) The induction of the chapter(s) referred to above shall be sufficient, if at any time two (2) valid representatives of the chapter(s) have been so accredited and inducted as provided.

 

4) (a) The chapters of the assembly mentioned in section 79 (1)(ii) shall include any local, state, or federal chapter of the assembly created and inaugurated by the assembly in a congress meeting. Provided that such a chapter must not be less than ten (10) members in its numerical strength at inception.

 

5) POWERS AND PRIVILEGES OF THE CHAPTER(S) OF THE ASSEMBLY

 

(a) The chapter(s) shall have powers to enact byelaws to regulate and direct its own proceedings. Provided that such byelaw(s) shall be subject to the provision of this constitution.(b) Where such byelaw(s) made by the chapter(s) is inconsistent with the provisions of this constitution, such byelaw(s) shall be null and void.”

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The Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF) was registered on Wednesday, 3rd April, 2019 with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a corporate body with registration number: CAC/TT/No. 127216. It serves as the umbrella and only body of graduates of Bonny origin.

 

In a telephone chat with Kristina Reports, BYF Leader, Simeon Wilcox, however, clarified that there were no ulterior motives behind the move to amend the constitution, explaining that the move was geared towards uniting the various youth bodies in Bonny Kingdom with a view to having them speak with one voice.

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“We are working towards achieving a partnership with all youth bodies so that we can protect and project the interest of Bonny youths under a common platform and be able to speak with one voice. But it appears some people are misunderstanding us and peddling unfounded rumours.”

 

Kristina Reports reliably learnt that the Bonny Kingdom Titled Citizens Assembly (TCA) had summoned both bodies in the wake of the uproar that trailed the amendment of the BYF constitution to subjugate the BGF, a body encompassing graduates of Bonny origin under the youth body.

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Williams, who is the Chairman of the TCA, had during the meeting urged the BYF leadership to heed to reason and jettison the idea, noting that the BGF comprises both the elderly and the young who are graduates, including the BYF Leader, Simeon Wilcox and as such cannot be subjugated under the youth body.

 

Wilcox stated that he stood his ground on the premise that as the youth leader of Bonny Kingdom, he was answerable only to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, asserting that the BGF was populated by youths and as such remains a youth body.

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He pointed out that BGF, not being a kingdom body cannot fight for the interest of Bonny graduates, maintaining that the BYF was the apex youth body and had overarching powers over every other youth body in Bonny Kingdom.

 

In a chat with Kristina Reports, BYF’s Director of Publicity, Geoffrey Ibienimi Allison, clarified that “it is not Simeon but the delegates of BYF that took the decision. It is only them that can reverse the decision. BYF is in partnership with BGF”.

 

“As partners, they can initiate ideas, bring suggestions on the way forward. By the way, BGF members have benefitted from scholarships coming from BYF, so there is nothing there. The members of BGF come from different chieftaincy houses, as such they are part of BYF”.

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When reminded that the wordings of the amended constitution were contradictory to his position as it was clearly stated that the BGF was an affiliate or chapter in the BYF with a privilege to have two representatives but without the right to vote or be voted for, he opined that “the matter would settled amicably”.

 

A source, who was at the TCA meeting told Kristina Reports that the former Minister of Housing, Amal Pepple asked the BYF Leader if she, being a graduate, was also a youth.

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Pepple, who was also the Chairman, Minimum Wage Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari, was of the opinion that though an infinitesimal and negligible number of the BGF membership were young people, it was necessary to appreciate that majority of the members were adults and even elderly.

 

She cautioned the BYF leadership against actions that were inimical to the peace and stability of Bonny Kingdom.

 

Reacting to the development, a member of the BGF and Councillor representing Ward 8, Mie-Iyeoju Jumbo declared that “no individual or group is bigger than this kingdom,” urging those behind the move to retrace their steps in the overall interest of peace in the community.