MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has described the policies and programmes of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as laying solid foundations that would rediscover Nigeria for the benefit of the youths.
Malam Bello, who made this remark at his official residence in Life Camp, said the present administration was essentially holding the fort for the youths.
He added that the progress, prosperity and transformation that were happening in the country was meant for the benefit of the youths.
“Most of us here are basically just holding the fort for you. The strength, progress, prosperity and the tremendous amount of transformation that are going to happen in this country are going to be done during your time.
“So, what Mr. President and his team are doing now is basically to rediscover Nigeria for your benefit, to lay a very solid foundation so that it becomes easier for you to govern it, live in it and to provide all the benefits for the teeming population,” he said.
Bello, who stated that it was important for the country not to miss this opportunity, said there was the need for the youths to rise above clannish tribal and ethnic sentiments and unite to work together for the benefit of the country.
The FCT minister said, “We have to be friendly to each other, we have to love each other, we have to be united, we have to be disciplined, we have to be honest, we have to be hardworking and above all, we have to be very broad-minded to accept your neighbours, irrespective of their tribe, religion and whatever they do and to work for the good of the community. If we do these, the sky is going to be the limit for all of us.
“If all of you put heads together and really unite as Abuja symbolises, then when it is your time, you are going to govern over a country that will be solid, that will be prosperous and that is going to be the envy of all African nations and all nations of the world.”
The minister equally charged youths living in the FCT to continue to work towards improving the security and harmonious coexistence within the city to ensure it remained a city cherished by Africa and the world.
Citing a recent statistics that show that a larger proportion of FCT population is comprised of youths, the FCT minister charged the youths to guard the city jealously, including its security, beauty as well as its harmonious inter-religious, inter-communal and inter-ethnic relationships.
“Abuja, as a city, is something that many people from other parts of the world admire and cherish, we must, therefore, guard it jealously,” he stated.
Earlier in his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment Programme, Mr Ismael Ahmed, thanked the minister for the reception given to them by agreeing to host the youths to a special Ramadan dinner.
Ahmed, who commended President Buhari for signing the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill into law, urged the FCT minister to create more opportunities for youths to serve in the FCT administration to also make them, “Not-Too-Poor-To-Run.”
“We hope that when you come back as Minister of FCT in 2019, the appointments into the FCTA will be full of young and vibrant people,” he said.
The SSA, however, urged FCT residents to consider participating in elections in the FCT and not always running back home to their places of origin to cast their votes during elections. According to him, “Whoever it is that resides in Abuja, we implore you not to be carrying your bags and your family to be going back home of origin to go and vote. Stay where you are to cast your vote,” he said.
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