Permit me in your widely circulated newspaper to comment on the dashed hope of the Nigerian youths, which constitutes 60% of the population and the votes during election. There is no doubt the APC led government came on board with pledge to save youths from restiveness for better future through provision of 3 million jobs and other interventions which include; sound education and proper sense of direction.
With what appears now it is ‘dashed hope’, as the situation remains the same as it was in the failed PDP administration. Few Nigerian youth under APC enjoy gimmick stipend of N30,000 for N-Power programme while many have nothing. What a clear corruption!
It is worrisome, how youths including university graduates have become skeptical about their future. From inception of the Buhari government to date, many offers of employment applications were made publicly to engage fresh civil servants, but corruption and selection were used to favour a few citizens; some didn’t even apply for the jobs because the same factors in the past still exist in APC government. These organisations include the Federal Civil Service, Immigration, EFCC, Port Authority, aviation and railway, etc.
The recent repatriation of some youths from Libya revealed many vices such as humiliation, forced prostitution and sometimes being sold as slaves. This was just because they had in search of jobs abroad not even a juicy but, easy and consistent means of living. It is sad! Annually, successive and present governments make high percentage of budgets for youths but with zero implementation. At this point I commend Senate President Bukola Saraki for drawing the attention of President Buhari during the 2018 budget presentation to focus on youth employment.
Our leaders pay more attention to issue of competition for wealth and marrying beautiful spouses, sometimes building mansions and investment for self-enrichment otherwise known as capitalism. History has shown in many instances of violence or communal clashes or political interest the youths participate in the destruction of properties owned by the leaders.
It is the hope of an optimist; our leaders should allow the youths the mantle of leadership as in France and other advanced nations rather than same old leaders continuing to dominate the political space. Many hired leading world engineers and doctors living outside Nigeria are citizens of Nigerians retained and supported by western world due to greediness and meanness of our leaders. It is a great challenge for youths in the forthcoming 2019 general elections to choose those that can guarantee brighter future for them and end the uncertainties in the land.
Umar Duguri
07033873327
