Felix Ikem, Nsukka
Few months to the commencement of campaigns for 2019 general elections, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct free and fair election during the polls.
President of the group, Enugu state chapter, Comrade Paschal Ugwu, made the demand, in Nsukka, on Tuesday, in a chat with Daily Sun. He stressed that this will help minimise high level of insecurity currently being experienced the country.
According to him, Nigeria seemed to be so much volatile in terms of security and as such the 2019 election should be conducted with utmost security consciousness to avoid break down of law and order in the country.
In his words, “We need security in this country. The 2019 general election is a litmus test for the security of this country. We have also urged the politicians not to use our youth for any form of political violence in this country. We are the future leaders of this country and as such, there is no reason whatsoever for us to engage in any form of violence.”
Explaining further, Comrade Ugwu stated that “Over the years we have had the issue of youths participating in election, not only on the issue of pasting posters or dancing for their political godfathers but on the issue of engaging the youths on thuggery. We have continued to tell our youths that if they are good to be for thuggery for another person to emerge as a winner, they can also be voted for. Why can’t you contest instead of engaging in thuggery? Who told you that you are too young to contest? We are currently appealing to the House of Assembly members to pass a bill, reducing the age qualification so that our youths can participate in politics.”
Condemning the youths engaging in political violence, the youth leader said, “The era of engaging the youths in political violence is gone. If you want your person to win, get your Permanent Voters’ Card, PVC and vote him or her in. At the same time, if you feel that your leader is not doing well, get your voters’ card and vote him or her out. If they take you to the field to fight, if you die there, who will lose? So, that is the simple situation.”
On the incessant killings of innocent by the Fulani herdsmen across the country, the NYCN boss lamented the situation, stressing that if the situation is not handled with immediate effect and utmost efficiency, Nigerian youths who according to him are always at the receiving end of the crisis will have no other option than to resort to self defense.
According to him, Nigeria youths are always at the receiving end and as such urgent actions are needed to forestall any further mayhem.
In his words “Something has to be done and urgently too. We cannot continue to die like this. You dare not tell people not to carry arms or protect themselves when their lives at risk. So, what has Federal government being doing about all these things?
“We cannot continue endangering ourselves and endangering other’s lives to all these Fulani herdsmen. Now, they said they are not terrorists but they do kill hundreds of people on daily basis. So, what are we doing? If the government within the shortest period of time does not do anything about all these killings, of course the youths will resort to self defense. I must tell you, we will resort to self defense because the youths are dying on daily basis.
“Government should do something urgently about these killings. These Fulani herdsmen should desist from this evil act otherwise the youths will have no other option that to protect themselves.”
Comrade Ugwu also appealed to the government at all levels to provide employment opportunities for the youths to curb youths restiveness which according to him does not speak well of any progressive economy.