Rising -up for a United Nigeria (RUN) has called on the youths to channel their energies towards productive activities in the interest of the country.
RUN Convener, Dr. Solomon Adodo who addressed hundreds of youths to commemorate the 2024 International Youth Day in Abuja remarked that Nigeria is endowed to be at par with developed countries of the world.
Adodo who expressed concern over the loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties running into billions of naira in the recently held nationwide protests, called on the youths to work in concert with those entrusted with the governance of the country to actualise their goals.
Adodo who spoke on the theme: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.’ refered to how the late Singaporean leader Lee Kuan Yew harnessed and galvanized its youthful population to transform the country from backwardness to one of the developed economies of the world.
Applauding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for putting in place several intervention programmes targeted at empowering the youths, he expressed the readiness of his outfit to partner with other civil societies organizations (CSOs) to prevail on ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ensure that the youths are engaged in productive activities.
Frowning at the destructive conduct of youths during the nationwide protests, he assured that the teeming population of youths in the country would resist the call for foreign interventions in the affairs of the country.
Former President national youth council of Nigeria (NYCN), Amb Wale Ajani warned the youths to desist from any act that could lead to the disintegration of Nigeria.
He said regular communication and engagement is required to galvanize the youths in ensuring a better and prosperous Nigeria in the years ahead.
A former student leader and former Senior Special assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Comrade Jude Imagwe noted that the recently held.natiowide protest was in tandem with global practice of holding government accountable.
He said Nigerians , including the youths at the recieving end of the high cost of living as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, electricity tariffs and other levies cannot be blamed for expressing their grievances.
He expressed disappointment with organisers of the protests for refusing to come out in the open to be identified.
He charged the youths in dire need of change and good leadership to aspire for leadership positions of the country.
He noted: “I have commanded several protests before. I can’t believe in a cause and not stand for it. There is no basis for anybody to say I don’t want to be known. Nobody is saying the Tinubu government is bad, they are only saying his policies are inhuman.
“You can’t be running multiple policies like subsidy removal, electricity tariffs increase, imposition of levies and taxes and people must not shout. A lot of people can’t eat, they can’t go to school.
“However the onus still lies in for every right comes with responsibility. You must not infringe on the other man’s rights. We are the future of Nigeria. If we don’t hold Nigeria as our project, nobody will do it for us. Our hope is for young persons to drive this process better.
“Why would some of the protesters go out of their way to raise another country’s flag? Nobody should encourage that, definitely not us and we will never be part of it. Somebody cannot come in the name of protest and be calling on Russia to come and oversee our country.
“I have my sympathy for Tinubu. This is the worst of all time to be president. Any person would have faced it the problem he is facing today.