International Youth Day; You are dream killers – Group blasts Nigerian leaders

ernational Youth Day, a group under the aegis of The National Youth Alliance, NYA, has described Nigerian leaders as dream killers who are good at destroying the future of their youths to perpetuate themselves in the corridors of leadership.

In a press statement issued by the Chairman of the group in Imo State, Chinonso Uba, to mark this year’s International Youth Day, informed that this year’s celebration is historical as it is being celebrated amidst a nationwide protest across the federation against bad governance.

He said the day is set aside to celebrate the youths all over the world and recognize their inputs towards economic growth globally as they remain the fulcrums of the labour force.

“It’s a day set aside to evaluate the importance of the youths to the socio-economic cultural and political development of every nation. Most nations of the world have placed their youths in productive and comfortable positions through policies that place the interest of their young ones first on the list. Such countries harp on the need to establish an independent youth for national growth and all-round development.

”Countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and some African countries have allowed their youth to participate actively in the political development of their various countries. Youths have been integrated into the mainstream of their country’s leadership.

”Today in most western countries and few countries in Africa, youths are in leadership positions as presidents, prime ministers, governors etc.” He stated.

The NYA State Chairman, however, regretted that it is unfortunate in Nigeria, as the leaders are only interested in killing the dreams of her youths through corruption, bad governance, ethnicity, bribery, human rights violations, police and military brutality, induced poverty, hunger and starvation.

Uba explained that Nigerian youths of the 1960s were given every opportunity by the colonial masters to excel, although not without skirmishes and restrictions but they thrived and got independence for the Nigerian People.

“After independence till around 1979, the level of youth participation in politics and leadership declined due to the rise of corrupt leaders who had taken over the realms of leadership, through military dictatorships who constantly overthrow themselves to be in power. Most of these military dictators got corrupted by the political class who taught them how to embezzle public funds and cover up their tracks,” the release further stated

He observed that the era of military dictatorship and the consequent handover to the civilian government in 1999, gave rise to a more vicious and insensitive leader who gives no damn about the needs of the people.

Uba maintained that it is this crop of Nigerian leaders who have successfully killed the beautiful dreams of youths.

The NYA State Chairman explained that the National Youth Alliance has come to bridge the gap between the Nigerian youth of yesterday and today for a positive futuristic outcome.

“In this light therefore, all youths are urged to wake up from any form of slumber and face the challenge of changing the collective Dreams of all Nigerian youths for an egalitarian society, where no one is unjustly treated because he or she has no Godfather or Godmother.

”Our dreams for better must not dwindle or fade off because of the current leaders who lack human sympathy to develop the country despite billions of naira allocated every month to them” the release concluded.