Former federal lawmaker Dachung Musa Bagos has urged the youth of Plateau North to demand accountability and take ownership of political positions to shape their future in the state.
He says, “The time has come for us, the youths, to rise and take up leadership. Until you own a position, you can’t demand accountability. You won’t know the level of transparency the office requires.”
Bagos, who represented Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, gave the charge in Jos during the maiden edition of the Plateau Northern Zone Youth Summit, themed “Equipping the Next Generation, Transforming Tomorrow.”
The former federal lawmaker explained that the summit was an opportunity for young people to set the agenda for 2027 and beyond.
“This is where we discuss the future of Plateau Northern youths. Not just to discuss, but to articulate concrete issues that will inform our agenda. We no longer want to go to the streets, making empty campaign promises. These are the issues the youths themselves are saying should drive the campaign,” he stated.
According to him, feedback from the engagement showed that young people were more concerned about insecurity, economic empowerment, and legislative issues than politicians often assumed. “They’re not just looking for promises; they care about deep-rooted issues like insecurity, their future, and legislative matters. These youths are concerned about Nigeria. So for me, this summit is a wake-up call. The youths say, ” We own this process,” Bagos added.
Meanwhile, Panan Dapar, chairman of the Plateau Youth Council (PYC), cautioned young people against political intolerance and urged them to put the state above partisan rivalry.
“If you belong to Party A, carry out your responsibilities with decorum. Do not attack those in Party B. We should be talking about not PDP or APC but Plateau State,” Dapar said, warning that divisive youth actions often heighten tension and derail peace efforts.
Similarly, Stephen Akuba, who chaired the occasion, applauded Bagos’ mentorship initiative and described him as an example worth emulating for present and future generations.
The summit brought together youth representatives, community leaders, and political stakeholders from across the senatorial district, highlighting the growing role of youths in political discourse and governance.
