THE Nigerian ethnic nationalities youth leaders, on Monday, took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the past three years, saying the government has failed in all ramifications.
According to the group, the present government under President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in all ramifications and Nigerians, particularly the youths must begin to examine other options and review the leadership selection process.
This was contained in a press statement jointly signed after their meeting in Abuja by the President Arewa Youths Consultative Forum and National President of Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders, Shettima Yerima; President Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide and Ethnic Nationalities Forum of Niger Delta, Barrister Pereotubo R. Oweilaemi; Deputy Chairman, Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders and National President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro; and the National Secretary Ethnic NationalitiesYouth Leaders and National President, Yoruba Youth Council (YYC), Comrade Eric Oluwole, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.
The group said Nigerians, especially the youths were yet to witness the promised one million new jobs annually made during 2015 election campaigns by Buhari’s government.
It said while Nigerians wait for the fulfilment of this promise, many who have jobs were being fired on a daily basis as most companies lay off staff due to the prevailing harsh economic realities.
According to the statement, “youths that used to be employed have now joined the teeming population of unemployed persons and consequently vulnerable to all forms of indoctrination and
“While we condemn all manifestations of violence anywhere in the country, we call on the youths to resist the temptations of being used as tools for the dirty jobs of unscrupulous politicians, religious and ethnic jingoists and merchants of hate and division.” It stated.
The group insisted that government must take visibly serious steps towards an extensive restructuring of the country as the only remaining available solution to the current economic and political woes.
It further resolved to mobilize youths across all ethnic divides to work for a more stable and guaranteed future devoid of undue manipulation by the present crop of the bankrupt elite.
The group, therefore, called on the youths everywhere to wake up and participate actively in the leadership selection processes in their local governments, states and the federation.
“The meeting was as necessitated by our concern over the deepening poverty and restiveness among the youths due to long neglect by the authorities. Significantly, the meeting reviewed the present interplay between the worsening economic and security situation in the country.
“The meeting critically observed that for the past few years, Nigerians especially the youths is killed, maimed, and generally agonized under various guises while elites and politicians only quarrel and raise further tensions with no idea for solutions.
“It’s close to three years since the present government was sworn in with Muhammadu Buhari as president and Nigerians, especially the youths, are yet to feel any meaningful change. It’s been one challenge after the other, from stinging poverty to mass joblessness, to pervading insecurity, too painful fuel scarcity, to the poor power supply, to a persistent instability in the value of the naira.
“Nigerians have been groaning over epileptic power supply which has crippled many businesses in spite of government promise to expand electricity generation and distribution to 40,000 MW.
“The value of the naira has continued to dwindle and government annual budgets are all the time controversial and wrapped around embarrassing scandals.
“There seems to be no solution from the government to the intermittent fuel scarcity in the country even after a 100 per cent increase in pump prices.
“While the current government boasts of focusing on curbing Boko Haram insurgency, the sect appears to be even more emboldened with the recent daring abductions and intensified attacks and killings. The situation is heightened by an upsurge in kidnappings for ransom, armed robbery, communal conflicts that are taking heavy tolls and all forms of brigandage across the country.
The meeting which was convened by the national chairman of the group, Alhaji Shettima Yerima was attended by 54 ethnic youth groups.
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