Jaye Gaskia: One issue this conference must deal with is the question of rights; of the duties and obligations of the state; of the responsibility of citizens. The most significant thing that can be done will be to address the question of a social charter; the question of a comprehensive bill of rights that will be justiciable and enforceable. In this context, therefore affirmative action deliberately driven by policy and legislation will be required for all excluded groups. Yes, affirmative action that is enforceable for youth and women representation must be an integral part of this social charter. YOUTH Governments at all levels would be held to account regarding the realization of the social charter and should One issue this conference be required to annually address steps being taken to must deal with is the question realize the social charter in annual state of the union of rights; of the duties and accountability addresses. obligations of the state; of the responsibility of citizens. Ledum Mitee: On the issue of youths, it seems to me that what is required is not necessarily just focusing on Jaye Gaskia "youths" to be given positions, but creating a polity that ……………………… every Nigerian child should have a guaranteed future. When every child is entitled to protection of his/ her What is required is not future through education, health, gainful employment or necessarily just focusing on social welfare, then we would have created a youth"youths" to be given positions, centric nation. We have seen those falling into the youth but creating a polity that bracket assuming positions of responsibility but doing every Nigerian child should nothing to protect the general future of youths. have a guaranteed future. When every child is entitled to There is no country in the world, more so those with protection of his/ her future heterogeneous groups, that does not use affirmative through education, health , action at some point or the other. A country that has gainful employment or social been erected on the quick sands of injustice cannot do welfare, then we would have without some form of affirmative action. created a youth-centric nation. Peter Esele: I am not a strong believer in affirmative Ledum Mitee action. For me it's like breaking the cocoon of a butterfly. …………………… If the butterfly is allowed to go through its natural process of forcing itself out of the cocoon, we are always The youth must organize and amazed by its sleek and beauty. The youth must mobilize to be heard. At the organize and mobilize to be heard. At the end of the day, end of the day, our destiny is our destiny is determined by the sacrifice we are willing determined by the sacrifice to pay for our beliefs, and not by handouts. we are willing to pay for our beliefs, and not by handouts. People like Ledum Mitee became what they are today, not because they were given handouts as youth. He Peter Esele went through the furnace which has made him a better person for himself and his country.
Jaye Gaskia: I do believe that affirmative action is necessary and important; but I do believe that it must be
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National Conference and Us!