2019: Coalition of 54 Nigerian youth groups write off Buhari

No less than 54 ethnic youth group leaders on Monday met in Abuja and described President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as a total failure.

The groups resolved to begin to examine other options as well as to review the leadership selection process in Nigeria.

Among the youth groups were Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF), Ijaw Youth Council( IYC) worldwide, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) worldwide and Yoruba Youth Council (YYC).

The youth groups said that the meeting became vital following the recent “uncertain twists in the country which are punctuated by crises and conflicting perceptions”.

The meeting which was convened by the national chairman of the group, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, considered among other things the security situation in the country, and the uncertainties in the political and economic environment.

“The meeting also assessed key events and developments which are expected to affect the nation in the coming years.

“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 statement released following the meeting read in part.

The groups added that they have critically observed that for the past few years, Nigerians especially the youths, are killed, maimed, and generally agonized under various guises while elites and politicians only quarrel and raise further tensions with no idea of 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, to painful fuel scarcity, to poor power supply, to a persistent instability in the value of the naira”.

On Power supply, the youth leaders said “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”.

On the Economic situation, they asserted, “The value of the naira has continued to dwindle and government annual budgets are all the time controversial and wrapped around embarrassing scandals”.

On the fuel supply situation around the country, they said “there seems to be no solution from government to the intermitent fuel scarcity in the country even after a 100% increase in pump prices.

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“Security challenges: 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.

“Unemployment: Nigerians especially the youths are yet to witness the promised 1 million new jobs annually made during 2015 election campaigns. While Nigerians wait for for the fulfilment of this promise, many who have jobs are being fired on a daily basis as most companies lay off staff due to the prevailing harsh economic realities. Youths that used to be employed have now joined the teeming population of unemployed persons and consequently vulnerable to all forms of indoctrination and radicalisation.”

The groups therefore resolved that “the present government under President Muhammadu Bihari has failed in all ramifications and Nigerians, particularly the youths must begin to exermine other options and review the leadership selection process.”

It went further to say, “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.

“We insist 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.

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“We resolve 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 bankrupt elite.

“We therefore call on the youths everywhere to wake up and participate actively in the leadership selection processes in their local governments, states and the federation.”

The statement was signed by president AYCF and national president of Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders, Shettima Yerima; president IYC worldwide and Ethnic Nationalities Forum of Niger Delta, Barr. Pereotubo R. Oweilaemi; deputy chairman, Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders and national president, OYC worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro; and national secretary Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders and national president YYC, Comrade Eric Oluwole.

 

 

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