In a statement jointly signed by the Nigerian Youth Leaders,
the body said it has noticed that the federal government is planning another
lockdown owing to the increase in Covid 19 cases.
“We want to advice that Presidential taskforce shouldn't go
for the option of advising Mr President to order another lockdown because you
can't move forward and begin to move backwards again. Instead, strategic
implementation of the policies of PTF on covid 19, how to strengthen what they
have put in place, ensuring strict compliance to safety measures and
non-pharmaceutical interventions that have been put in place should be the way
to go now, not another lockdown!”
The statement further outlined that, “we have gotten to the
state where every Nigerian must take responsibility and take ownership of how
to navigate the pandemic to stay alive and survive it, while the government
ensures that the wearing of face masks, use of sanitizers, physical distancing
are enforcement strictly, engaging community and religious leaders and all
forms of informal leaderships to cede the ownership of fighting the virus to
the people.”
As a step further, the youth leaders also called on the
federal government to lift the ban on intra state travels, operation of local
flights be lifted and more importantly, that schools be re-opened.
On the issue of security, the youth leaders called for
support and encouragement of the nation’s security agents.
‘Unarguably, there have been recorded cases of attacks by
terrorist and insurgents, the Armed Forces are busy daily laying their lives to
keep us and our country safe. Having made diligent investigation as concerned
Nigerian youth Leaders, we warn leaders of the opposition who are against the
federal government leadership, fueling crisis by sponsoring bandits and
insurgents to destabilize our country to stop forthwith. We condemn the action
of those who frustrate the efforts of our security agencies by leaking
information.We will no longer tolerate attempts by selfish persons to
overthrow government in any guise. We propose that the federal government gives
special hazard allowances to frontline soldiers same way our front line Health
workers are provided for during the Covid 19 outbreak, to further boost their
morale. There should be increased manpower injected to our Armed Forces.
Fighting equipment is key and we suggest that the government sets up an Armed
Forces Trust fund same just like the Police Trust Fund to help raise funds for
more equipment to aid the Military. It is our candid opinion that if these
basics are not met, the situation will remain the same even if new service
chiefs are introduced. Security is a joint responsibility and not to be
left to government alone.”
In one voice, the youth leaders also spoke against the periodic
assault and use of hate speeches on President Muhammadu Buhari, the President
and Commander in Chief of the Armed forces of the federal republic of Nigeria.
The youth leaders said that they condemn in totality the
rascality and incivility of one youth named Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere who they
said is being sponsored by selfish Nigerian leaders opposed to the current
leadership of the federal government of Nigeria to periodically sustain the act
of abusing and insulting the President of Nigeria Mohammed Buhari.
“We condemn his incisive words of calling on Nigerian youths
to forcefully chase the present Government out of power. We reject and demand
an apology from him in describing Nigeria as a woman! This is an insult
our sensibility as a country and also our Nigerian women who by his expression
have described them as weaklings. His attack on Mr President is one too many
and should be condemned by every right thinking Nigerian. We give him two weeks
to withdraw all personal attack and insults meted on our president. Youth
activism should not be turned into rascality. Enough is enough. His
attitude gives credence to earlier claim by some groups that he is a paid agent
to cause chaos and disintegration in the country. We and other great Nigerian
youth Leaders decided to pull out of his programs and Press Conference having
realized that his aim is always to generate tension, abuse elders and statesmen
and call for youths to join in destabilising the polity and the government. We
urge all Nigerian Youths to distance from this approach and urge every right
thinking group not to buy into his ugly agenda. We support constructive
criticism but not destabilization of the country,” the statement added.
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