THE POWER OF THE YOUTHS; BY SADIQ UMAR ABDULLAHI!

THE POWER OF THE YOUTHS; BY SADIQ UMAR ABDULLAHI! There is a false statement that is spreading like wildfire depicting the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo tweeting that youths were not among the cabinet of the new government, thereby impliedly stating that the Nigerian youths have not positively performed and acquired the requirements to be part of the government and the newly constituted cabinet that had just been screened by the Senate. It is because of such statements that I would like to say to the person spreading such false public statements claiming to be the Vice President that, on behalf of the entire youths of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, we beg to differ even if he had made his statement in a mosque preaching or a church choir,it would still be unacceptable because youths of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have played major roles and strategic maneuvers to bring this present government to power. The youth are always in the front line of every political struggle and have risked their health, wealth and lives at the expense of the various communities and constituencies in which they hail from. It will not be an understatement if I say or claim that the youths do 70 percent of the work that needs to be done during elections on both State and Federal level, which is why they deserve what ever it is that is given to them when governments are formed. There are youths in Nigeria that have achieved the highest qualifications,global status,experienced and headed institutions in diaspora that no one among the elders alive today in Nigeria has managed to achieve at his prime and youth. Among the youths that have acquired the highest heights of achievements include youths like, Dr Ahmed Adamu who is just about to finish his tenure as the (Chairperson of Commonwealth Youth Council) after emerging victorious in an election among 44 other Europeans with over 2.2 billion youths under him across the globe in all Commonwealth countries. We also have Isma'il Ahmed who is currently a BOT member of the APC and is very much qualified to be a Youth Minister. We have Barrister Bada Soraye who is the President of the PAN Nigerian Youth Movement. We also have the President of National Youth Council of Nigeria (Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere). There is also Dr Austin Mbama Esq who happens to be the President of the Next Generation Nigeria Youth Summit. On behalf of the entire youths, we would like to differ with regard to the statement made on the 13th of October, 2015 about the perception of the Nigerian youths and would kindly like to appeal to the person that is re-tweeting false and unsubstantial statements claiming to have been said by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to retract his statement saying "we could not find outstanding Nigerian youths to form cabinet of the newly constituted government; it is a challenge to the youth to brace up". There's an old saying that states "the youth should not underestimate the experience of the old and the experienced ones should not underestimate the power of the youths". The real question is, did the President and his team consider working with the youths of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his cabinet or not? If the new government feels the youths are too young and ambitious, then I believe a little recap on history is in order. General Yakubu Gowon was President at 32, late Shehu Yaradua retired as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at 36 and the incumbent and two time President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was a Military Head of State when he was just 41 years old. Theirs was a generation of analog, slow pace of development, minimal population, diversities and widespread ethnic uprising, while ours is a generation of digital and global communication network with effective transmission of information and technological advancements. In northern Nigeria,with regard to affiliation with youths in State level,Governor Masari of Katsina State is at the top of our list due to employing mostly youths as his commissioners. With regard to progress and development of the youths,Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state is topping the charts. At the Federal level,there seems to be too much confusion and political turmoil to be able to understand what is really happening,which is why we will keep our lips sealed for now but be watching closely with an eagle eye and make remarks when we get a clearer picture of the situation.