Apex youth organisations in the country on Monday declared that Nigerian youths were tired of false promises from the political class every election cycle, vowing to join forces in order to rescue Nigeria from what they called bad governance by electing a credible candidate.
While demanding for immediate actions to tackle the nation’s challenges, they called on young people to seize the opportunity of the 2023 polls to make their voices heard and also re-write the nation’s history.
The youth organisations include, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yoruba Youth Council, Niger-Delta Youth Coalition, National Youth Council of Nigeria, National Union of Nigerian Students (NANS) and other similar bodies.
Addressing Journalists on Monday in Abuja on the outcome of a strategic dialogue with youths across the country, leaders of the youth groups under the auspices of “Youth Awake Nigeria, (YAN), said they would scrutinise the manifestos of the presidential candidates and a Demand Charter from the Nigerian youths will be presented to them.
They noted that a succession of bad leadership foisted on the country and the misgovernment resulting thereof is now reflected across every sector of the nation.
Those present at the briefing included the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima; President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuife: President of Yoruba Youth Council, Eric Oluwole; President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Sukubo Sara-Igbe; President of National Association of Nigerians Students Usman Barambu; Chairman of Youth Awake Nigeria, Dr Festus Uchenna, among others
According to them, the youths, as the engine room of the nation, must strive hard to achieve a new Nigeria.
Barr. Oweilaemi Pereotubo of the Niger-Delta Youth Coalition, who read the communique issued at the end of the strategic meeting, said that the 2023 elections presents a ‘golden opportunity’ to steer the ship of the nation away from the path of bad governance.
He said, “The Nigerian youths have been at the receiving end of policies made by leaders of past administrations, and thus have been denied several opportunities to explore their youthful potentials and hence the need to thoroughly engage the manifestos of the presidential candidates for proper scrutiny and endorsement.
“We, the youths of this nation have had enough. That is why we must speak. We are tired and have tried. We must use our numbers to speak with one voice.
“Enough is enough. We are not not going to continue to take this again. Going forward, youth inclusiveness in leadership roles in government is mandatory.
“We, the youths, make up 80 percent of the nation’s population. We must use our numbers to unite with one voice and hold whoever will win the presidential election to deliver on his manifesto.
“Every Nigerian youth is enjoined to speak freely, expressing their demands to their preferred candidates.”
Consequently, Pereotubo said a Memorandum of Agreement will be executed with each of the presidential candidates before the February 25, 2023 polls.
On his part, Chairman of YAN, Festus Uchenna, said Nigerian youths have the power to determine who wins the presidential poll next month.
According to him, the country needs a leader who is in tune with 21st technology to put an end to insecurity and poverty ravaging the nation.
He said: ” YAN was created out of passion for this nation. We contributed within ourselves to do this. We have done great research about this country and pondered which way forward.
“There is something we have observed day by day that for every four years, they just come, promise and go. But now, we need to understand our power. We can make anybody president or governor and also reject anybody calling. They (political class) don’t tell us their manifesto, they just go and after four years, youth are not included. We are all here to ask for our rights from whoever wants to become the president. We need a leader that we will take us through 21st country technology.”
