RETIRED Maj – Gen Johnson Ochoga, a former Joint Task Force Commander in the Niger Delta, has urged Nigerian youths to vote for credible leaders in the 2019 general elections for good governance.
Ochoga gave the advice on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He spoke while receiving an award of “Noble Man of the Year’’ from the Noble Youth Mass Support Association (NYMSA).
According to him, every Nigerian of voting age is a stakeholder in peacebuilding and the sustenance of peace processes, especially at a critical period of election.
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He maintained that it was old-fashioned for the electorate to focus on choosing leaders from any political party, without looking at the credibility of such a candidate.
“Youths are said to be leaders of tomorrow, and I think that tomorrow is right here if they can choose the right candidate.
‘‘It is time we change our orientation and see how governance should better youths of the country and our society.
“We must not elect leaders based on religion, tribe or ethnicity, but elect leaders with integrity and competence who have love of the people at heart.
‘‘Before you vote for a candidate, make sure you interact with the person and know what he has for youths,” Ochoga said.
The former JTF commander advised youths not to allow themselves to be used by politicians as thugs before, during and after the elections.
He also called for peaceful co-existence of citizens of different backgrounds, religious and political affiliations.
Ochoga said that it was only in an atmosphere of peace that the nation could make progress in all human endeavours.
He said that youths, who constitute a majority of the nation’s population, should embrace honesty and hard work for the nation’s development.
Also, Mr Godwin Onmonya, the National Coordinator of the association, while presenting the award, described the retired general as a man of impeccable character worthy of emulation by youths in the country.
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