I heard it from the rumor mill. I felt it from the excitement and increased activity of youth advocates-they tweeted with more voracity. I saw it in the bland requests for a certain man’s number-the man perceived to be in charge of offering invitations. I saw it in the obstinate chin set of people who knew they would not be invited. It was the Presidential Lunch and youths around the country were agog. Why? It was a fora for the president to meet and discuss with the youth. Which people would be invited? Those regarded as representative of the youth population. How would they be identified? Well, by nomination.
So it went that on Tuesday, 25th of May, the youth congregated to have a jaw-jaw with Mr. President. They ate, they spoke, they argued and at the end of the day-they were compensated for their worries.
In the wake of the event, a couple of issues arise. Issues in the form of dissenting voices which attempt to taint the reputation of those who have attended-people who see a sit-in as representation, and attendance as a sell-out. They have voiced allegations against the per diem paid to attendees, against the fact that they consorted with Mr. President and against the quality of the pounded yam.
As a Christian, I frowned when I heard about the meal of choice. Yam and things have always being associated with a sell-out in my religion.
In my view, dialogue between the government and those desiring change should always be welcome. This can be seen in autobiographies of social revolutionaries like Nelson Mandela. It should be noted that social advocacy is different from whining. One has to do with championing a cause and seeking to see the change you desire. The latter has to do with criticizing everything and a desire to be seen as anti-establishment.
On the brown envelope matter, ehm...per diems are an accepted global practice. It is seen as compensation for time and resources used as well as a thinking that the attendees would have made the same amount in their various private ventures.
Then, in the Yoruba culture (and even mine-Ogori Magongo), it is a faux pas to criticize attendees at an event you were not invited to and it follows that POUNDED YAM IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE REJECTED.
I don’t wanna turn this article into a long thing, So I end on the note that the president’s signing of the FOI bill into law shows his love of openness and interaction. Therefore, it behooves on every true patriot to embrace like opportunities to air their views on a larger platform. This is behavior worthy of a patriot and any who does more than this should be questioned. (Sorry, I just had to slip in that Shakespeare look-alike line)
Then on the pounded yam, good choice of delicacy Mr. President
Osisiye Tafa, graduate of the Political Science Department, University of Lagos. Tweeter Handle: @osisiye
