Nigerian Youths: The Key To A Better Nigeria-Chief Emeka Kalu
The increasing and unprecedented participation of youths in violent activities in Nigeria in recent times should be a cause of worry to both parents and political leaders.
Most violent activities, ranging from the use of social media to incite ethnic violence, sponsored attacks against opposition leaders, kidnapping, armed robbery, Pipeline vandalism, cultism, rape, street fighting, electoral violence etc. are being perpetrated by youths in Nigeria who are negatively motivated by desperate human beings, politicians, religious leaders, wrong peer groups, to name but a few. Yet, the very future of our dear country depends on these youths that this present generation is able to nurture. When we sow wind, we reap the whirlwind.
These negative trends, obviously, is a product of leadership failures by governments at all level of governance, and negative orientation. Our leaders are obviously using a divide and rule syndrome to cause ethnic and religious crisis among the youths, thereby, taking advantage of our weaknesses as unemployed youths to enrich themselves and their generations yet unborn. Crave for the right reorientation always starts with the decision to stop to think, reflect and yearn for only what is right.
We must realize these factors on time to avert the looming dangers ahead of us.
How long do we fold our hands and watch these destiny robbers continue cheating us depends on us. Majority of them, the purveyors of our collective inheritance, have their children schooling in foreign universities with VIP treatment, while they plunder and abandon our tertiary institutions in a state of rigor mortis with substandard learning facilities. The real enemies of our destinies are within us; they are the ones threatening our unity as a nation.
They are those looters we worship as governors, senators, house of reps members, ministers etc.
They have succeeded in mortgaging the future of the masses while their children intermarry themselves to oil their already existing merchandise. A few examples are Governor Ganduje’s daughter to former governor Ajomobi’s son, Isa Yuguda’s son to the Sultan of Sokoto’s daughter, Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s child marrying from the richest home In Borno State etc.
Nigerian youths are too intelligent and talented to be treated unjustly. They are blessed with numerous characteristics, which include charisma, creativity, intelligence, and perseverance, among others. All these potentials, if properly harnessed, constitute an invaluable asset to any nation. Failure to fully harness these potentials in youths only spells disaster for the future, and we’re not too far from that uncertain future.
The youths should not allow themselves to be used by these merchants for their selfish interests. Rather, they should think critically by examining those that present themselves for elections and elect only those with unquestionable characters, competency, capacity and leadership qualities that are vital to reposition Nigeria on the path of positive progress and nationhood.
