Nigerian youth leaders under the aegis of League of Nigerian Youth Groups have learnt their voices on salient issues of the moment in the country especially as it concerns the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, the Armed Forces of Nigeria and the assassination of character of President Muhammadu Muhari.
At a press conference held today, June 29th in Abuja, the group said:
We are here today as concerned Nigerian Youth Leaders to make our position known as regards some critical issues, as it affects Nigerians and the way forward.
Firstly, there are rumoured notices that another lockdown may be announced by the Federal Government following the increase of Covid-19 cases. We want to advice that Presidential taskforce shouldn’t go for the option of advising Mr President to order another lockdown because you can’t move forward and begin to move backwards again.
Strategic implementation of the policies of PTF on Covid-19, how to strengthen what they have put in place, ensuring strict compliance to safety measures and non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been put in place should be the way to go now, not another lockdown.
We have gotten to the state where every Nigerian must take responsibility and take ownership of how to navigate the pandemic to stay alive and survive it, while the government ensures that the wearing of face masks, use of sanitizers, physical distancing are enforced strictly, engaging community and religious leaders and all forms of informal leaderships to cede the ownership of fighting the virus to the people.
We also advice that the ban on Inter-state travels, operation of local flights be lifted and schools reopened.
The second area we want to lend our voice is on the issue of insecurity in Nigeria.
We urge us all to encourage our security agents. Unarguably, there have been recorded cases of attacks by terrorists and insurgents. However, the Armed Forces are busy daily laying their lives to keep us and our country safe.
Having made diligent investigation as concerned Nigerian youth Leaders, we warn leaders of the opposition who are against the federal government leadership, fueling crisis by sponsoring bandits and insurgents to destabilize our country to stop forthwith. We condemn the action of those who frustrate the efforts of our security agencies by leaking information. We will no longer tolerate attempts by selfish persons to overthrow government in any guise.
We propose that the federal government gives special hazard allowances to frontline soldiers same way our front line Health workers are provided for during the Covid-19 outbreak, to further boost their morale.
There should be increased manpower injected to our Armed Forces. Fighting equipment is key and we suggest that the government sets up an Armed Forces Trust fund same just like the Police Trust Fund to help raise funds for more equipment to aide the Military. It is our candid opinion that if these basics are not met the situation will remain the same even if new service chiefs are introduced. So first thing first.
Security is a joint responsibility and not to be left to government alone.
The Third issue we have decided to speak on is one malpractice we will no longer tolerate. That is the periodic assault and use of hate speeches on President Muhammadu Buhari, our President, the President and commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We condemn in totality the rascality and incivility of one youth named Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere who is being sponsored by selfish Nigerian leaders opposed to the current leadership of the federal government of Nigeria to periodically sustain the act of abusing and insulting the President of Nigeria, Mohammed Buhari.
We condemn his incisive words of calling on Nigerian youths to forcefully chase the present Government out of power.
We reject and demand an apology from him in describing Nigeria as a woman! This is an insult our sensibility as a country and also our Nigerian women who by his expression have described them as weaklings.
His attack on Mr President is one too many and should be condemned by every right thinking Nigerian. We give him two weeks to withdraw all personal attacks and insults meted on our president. Youth activism should not be turned into rascality. Enough is enough.
His attitude gives credence to earlier claim by some groups that he is a paid agent being used to cause chaos and disintegration in the country.
We and other great Nigerian youth leaders decided to pull out of his programs and Press Conference having realized that his aim is always to generate tension, abuse elders and statesmen and call for youths to join in destabilizing the polity and the government.
We urge all Nigerian Youths to distance from this approach and urge every right thinking group not to buy into his ugly agenda.
We support constructive criticism but not destabilization of the country.
Thanks.
Signed:
Hon. Godstime Chukwubuikem Samuel
YAN National Speaker and LONYG Convener
Hon. Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed
President, Arewa Youths Congress
Rt.Hon. Mubarak Aliyu Rimi
National Speaker, Nigerian Students’ Parliament
Comr. Salma Musa
Leader, Council of Northern Female Comrades
