Buhari under attack over his lazy Nigerian youths comment

Barrage of attacks have continued to land on President Muhammadu Buhari for suggesting that Nigerian youths are lazy.

Among prominent Nigerians who have either attacked on disagreed with Buhari on the vexed issue include former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and erstwhile Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, among others.

The attacks came following Buhari’s comment during a panel discussion at the Commonwealth Business Forum (BEF) in Westminster, London, on Wednesday.

Buhari had told his audience, “About the economy, we have a very young population, our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. This is a very conservative one.

“More than 60 per cent of the population is below 30, a lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education for free.”

Reacting Fani-Kayode wrote on his Twitter handle, “2 years ago in London you (Buhari) clapped for David Cameron when he said… that the Nig. people were ‘fantastically corrupt!’ Today (Wednesday) in London, you tell a group of foreigners that Nig. youths are lazy illiterates who do nothing and who expect to be given everything for free.

“What type of leader takes pleasure in slandering, shaming, denigrating and humiliating hisown people before the world? What type of man tells foreigners that his own children and youths are lazy and unproductive? You have destroyed your own people and shamed them before the world!”

Fayose in his response said, “Nigerian youths are hardworking, intelligent and enterprising. Their future was mortgaged by past leaders like President Buhari, who had everything at their beck and call as youths. I imagine the youths of today having half of the opportunities available in the 50s and 60s…

“At 19, President Buhari left Secondary School to join the Army. At age 21, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Where can our youths get such opportunity today?”

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Atiku, in disagreeing with Buhari wrote, “Our youth are charting new frontiers; creating a huge tech industry on their own! Their entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and creative abilities are things of pride and should be applauded, encouraged and nurtured.

“I’ve always said oil is not Nigeria’s greatest asset. Our greatest asset is our youth who created Nollywood out of nothing and an entertainment industry that is second to none in Africa.

“I will never refer to Nigeria’s youth as people who sit and do nothing. They are hardworking. I should know, I have thousands of youths working for me all over the country who have been the backbone to our success.”

More Nigerians have flooded the social media space over the comment by Buhari.

 

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