Politics

2015: Youths And Paradigm Shift

Published

10 years ago

July 7, 2014

As the movement to
wards the 2015 general elections reaches a crescendo, the citizens are eagerly looking forward towards the election of credible leaders into different positions of authority.
While most citizens pray for the election of trustworthy leaders who will pilot the affairs of the nation in the next four years, Nigerians youths, however, express some reservations.
Some concerned youths note that in previous elections, young Nigerians were only engaged as thugs by some unscrupulous politicians to foment trouble.
They recall that some youths were also used to perpetrate electoral crimes such as ballot boxes’ snatching, harassment of political opponents, as well as riots and other forms of electoral violence.
Although available statistics show that Nigerian youths constitute 43 per cent of the nation’s population, most of the young citizens are largely unemployed and marginalised in the country’s political calculations.
However, the youth have somewhat resolved to rectify the situation in the forthcoming general elections in 2015.
They have vowed to resist the often-recycled retrogressive leaders of the country, while restructuring the nation’s political climate.
Mr Jude Imagwe, the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Youth and Student Matters, says that in 2015, Nigerian youths will brace to their expectations in efforts to transform Nigeria,
He, nonetheless, urges the youth to take advantage of their numerical strength by voting in credible leaders who would facilitate the transformation of the country.
Imagwe insists that through such concerted efforts, peace would reign in the country, while the dream of a better future for Nigerian youths would be achieved.
“Going by our numeral strength, we, the youth, dominate the electorate.
“Let us translate our superiority in numbers into voting in credible leaders who can stimulate the country’s transformation; those who can facilitate the fulfilment of our dreams.
“Above all, let us tell those persons, who feel that the only time we can be called upon is the time of destruction and violence, that enough is enough.
“Let us stop being used as agents of destruction, because the future of Nigeria belongs to our generation; we have more at stake than the older generation that wants to use us to destroy our country.
“So, the elders should allow us to enjoy peace and they give peace a chance,’’ he says.
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr Kenneth Okoineme, a Policy and Campaigns Officer for ActionAid, an international organisation, says that young Nigerians must find a way to redefine the agenda for the country’s development.
He stresses that the youth should use their numerical strength to set the agenda for good governance in Nigeria via their active participation in the country’s political processes, including elections.
“One of the challenges we have as youths is the kind of orientation we have today; we have a lot of young people who are not interested in how the country is being governed.
“We must provide spaces and platforms for the youth to come together and talk about nation-building strategies,’’ he says.
Okoineme says that Actionaid is using a platform known as “Activista’’ — a youth advocate group — to provide opportunities for young people to get together and discuss topical issues in their localities and proffer solutions.
However, Miss Bushrah Yusuf, a journalist, urges the youth to vote rightly and set aside every form of religious and ethnic sentiments in efforts to provoke positive changes in the country.
“We are expecting a positive turnaround in our country’s affairs but we ought to be the agents of change.
“So, we must stand up for the change by voting for the right candidates, irrespective of religious and ethnic sentiments; we must also eschew election violence,’’ she says.
Nevertheless, Mr Danielson Bamidele, the Secretary, Coalition of Nigeria Youths for Good Governance, insists that government and non-governmental organisations should mobilise Nigerian youths to refrain from violence and any form of electoral malpractices in 2015.
He underscores the need for the youth to get involved in intellectual and leadership activities as the 2015 election approaches, instead of being used as thugs.
Bamidele argues youth leaders to channel their energy into worthwhile ventures which would promote the inculcation of leadership qualities in young Nigerians, while grooming them for leadership positions in the country’s state of affairs.
Mrs Cornelia Paul, a 42-year-old school teacher, particularly decries a situation where youths are not encouraged to take up leadership positions in the country even when they are duly qualified for the posts.
“It is unfair, since my days in the primary school, our teachers made us to believe that we were the leaders of tomorrow and we eagerly looked forward to the fulfilment of that prophecy.
“But now, I’m almost a grandmother and my grandfather’s mates are still willing to rule us forever.
“They should please step aside and give the young ones a chance, the youth should at least constitute 30 per cent of the country’s ruling class,’’ she says.
However, Paul is not alone in the calls for more involvement of the youth in the country’s governance.
Dr Mourtada Deme, Project Director, United Nations Development Project (UNDP), made a similar call at a recent national youth conference on Democratic Governance and Development in Abuja,
He particularly urged Nigerian youths to participate in political activities.
While decrying the exploitation of youths by politicians, Deme advised political parties to strengthen youth participation in politics, saying: “Genuine political parties do not need a youth militia wing’’.
On the whole, observers believe that with the right information and environment, young Nigerians can thrive better in the political arena, as partners in the nation-building efforts.
They, nonetheless, note that factors such as unemployment, poverty and educational deficiencies are still militating against youth development aspirations in the country.
“If these factors, among others, are effectively tackled, Nigerian youths will be able to play dominant roles in the nation-building efforts,’’ some of the observers say.
Obande writes for News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Kate Obande

Youths during a political rally in Port Harcourt

Politics

How We Saved N2.3bn From LG Reforms – Diri

Published

15 hours ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has revealed that the reforms initiated and implemented by his administration led to the saving of the sum of N2.3 billion for the local government councils.
The governor disclosed this recently at the opening ceremony of an orientation programme organised for newly-elected local government council chairmen, vice chairmen, councilors and principal officers at Perdis Hotel, Akenfa.
Gov Diri stated that on assumption of office in 2020, some local government councils were highly indebted and unable to pay salaries but his administration took measures that resulted in regular payment of salaries, execution of projects and saving of funds.
The Bayelsa State Chief Executive restated his call on the Federal Government to create additional local councils in the state, saying it was injustice for some states to have more than 40 councils and receiving monthly allocation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Commission (FAAC), while the state had only eight.
He charged the newly elected local government officials to make good use of the two-day workshop to equip themselves with the requisite knowledge to carry out their responsibilities.
The governor also called on them to work as a team to ensure that development was felt at the grassroots.
“Local governments as at 2020 were unable to pay salaries, particularly Nembe, Ogbia, Ekeremor and Sagbama. There was some form of dissatisfaction in the system.
“After I went through the recommendations of the Deputy Governor, whom I entrusted with investigating the local government, I wasted no time in approving the recommendations.
“The recommendations included the ban on loans from any source by local government chairmen without approval of the governor; compulsory savings by every council; and the division of balance after payment of salaries into 60 and 40 per cent respectively. One part was for compulsory savings and the other to project implementation and immediate commencement of computerisation of their payroll as well as compulsory quarterly award of projects by each council chairman.
“We found a lot of fraud in the local government system. But as it stands today, our councils have N2.3billion as a result of the combination of the factors of reforms and proper supervision of that tier of government.
“The breakdown is N400million compulsory savings while N1.9 billion for capital projects. This is aside from the one done by caretaker committees in terms of project execution within the short period they stayed”, the governor said.
Gov Diri assured of his administration’s commitment to support the councils to achieve their goals and expressed confidence that the new officials would meet the expectations of the people.
“We firmly believe that good governance begins at the grassroots level. That is precisely why we have gathered here to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to improve our local government administration and enhance service delivery.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Politics

Monarch Cautions Against Divisive Politics, Declares Support For Fubara

Published

15 hours ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

The Eze Oruamara/Regent of Okwuzi Kingdom in Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the State, Eze Victor Afaka, has sued for peace among the political class in the State.
Eze Afaka made the appeal while speaking with The Tide on the sidelines of the governorship victory thanksgiving service by the Ogba Egbema /Ndoni Chapter of the Simplified Movement in Omoku.
He said Governor Fubara should be allowed to display the vision that God has given to him to govern the state.
According to him, since every administration has its term and tenure, the man presently at the helm of affairs in Rivers State must be given the opportunity to complete his own term and tenure.
“I advise politicians to sheathe their sword and allow peace to reign. Politics and governance have their terms and tenure. When it is your tenure, you have your vision to display; when you conclude that vision God has given you as a leader of your community or of a state, you step aside and leave the next person to display the vision God has given to him” he said.
The traditional ruler said he and his people, including the youth, women and the Ogbakor Egbema, decided to attend the service because of the excellent vision of Governor Fubara
“We are happy, Okwuzi people are in full support of the government, the government of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara”, he added.
He said that the governor’s peaceful disposition to governance has endeared him to His Kingdom, noting that Okwuzi kingdom was already a beneficiary of the present administration’s purposeful governance as the Omoku/Okwuzi road abandoned 10 years ago, was nearing completion.
“ONELGA, Okwuzi are benefitting from his government.The road that was abandoned for ten years is being completed right now and we know that there are so many other things he will do for us”, he said.
While urging the state government to give desired attention to the Okwuzi General Hospital that is in a state of dilapidation, Eze Afaka entreated Governor Fubara not to be distracted, but to continue to promote peace and development across the State.

John Bibor

Politics

APC Stakeholders Storm Secretariat, Demand Ganduje’s Resignation

Published

15 hours ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

A group of North Central stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, demanding the resignation of the National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the protesters said their demand followed his recent suspension by a faction of his ward executives and the alleged bribery allegation levelled against him by the Kano State government.
While they chanted solidarity songs and displayed several banners some of which read, “Ganduje must resign” and “Return the APC chairmanship to North Central,” the protesters appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, to consider returning the leadership of the party to the North Central.
Only on Tuesday, the Forum of APC State Chairmen had passed a vote of confidence on Ganduje, affirming their unalloyed support to him.
The protesters under the aegis of Concerned North Central APC Stakeholders lamented that the continued stay of Ganduje in office was a clear violation of the zoning principle in the party.
Mohammed Saba, who led the protesters, said unlike the 37 APC state chairmen, his people in the North Central have passed a vote of no confidence on the national chairman and equally demanded his immediate resignation.
Saba reiterated that the people of North Central felt betrayed when the position of APC national chairman was hijacked from them following the exit of Senator Abdullahi Adamu despite giving Tinubu the third highest votes after North West and South West at the 2023 presidential election.
He said, “We, the North Central APC Concerned Stakeholders, have resolved to unanimously agitate for our right and reclaim our mandate which was handed unto us by the National Convention of our great Party in 2022.
“Various sections of our constitution have established the procedure of replacing an executive member at all levels of the party in the event of death, resignation, incapacitation or expulsion from the party by any executive member.
“It is a fact that the emergence of Dr. Umar Ganduje as national chairman was done against the spirit and soul of the APC which is the constitution of our great party. This singular act has impacted negatively on us as a people in the North Central.