Galvanise youths for unity not rebellion, Lamido tells leaders

The immediate past governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has urged leaders to galvanise youths for purposeful political action, instead of inciting them to rebellion.

He said youths have been in charge of critical sectors of the economy, pointing out that attempts to use them as pawns in the ongoing search for credible leaders is not healthy for the nation’s stability.

Speaking to The Guardian against the backdrop of recent calls on youths to take over the country, he noted: “We have to unite across all the divides to forge a single Nigerian family with shared vision.”

He contended that young people have been dispossessed of the opportunity of knowing a united Nigeria due to long periods of military rule, adding that the youths are making giant strides in academia, commerce, banking, civil service and different trades.

Lamido said that as obtainable in a family unit, the young and the old have to work together to ensure a healthy transition, instead of asking young people to kill their fathers and take over. “The vision and dreams of the founding fathers should be at the centre of ongoing efforts to enthrone genuine democracy and good governance,” he said.

He said that killings, the culture of hate, division and fighting currently in the polity is not in line with the shared visions of the late Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Obafemi Awolowo, and others.

He said: “There should be freedom and not blackmail or attempt to demonise some people. Cohesion is necessary to understand ourselves as Nigerians, not on the basis of religion, ethnic or social standards. Nigeria is divided enough.”