Youths and 2019

AS the 2019 general election draws near, the campaign literature space of both traditional media; social media (local and international) have been dominated with the same political issues. The Nigerian youth population is significantly made up of a large proportion in the Nigeria demography but when it comes to season of political election the youths’ suffer from amnesia. They need medical and psychological rehabilitation before turning a new leaf!

This is a situation where their habit is likened to that of alcoholic rodent and uncivilized animals in their political activities; unscrupulous politicians use them as canon fodders for various political activities and violence to satisfy their gluttonous appetite and sustain their grip on the political throne.

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Nigerian youths should not allow themselves to be used as instrument of destruction in the hand of unscrupulous politicians to create notorious outfits that are capable of unleashing mayhem across the country in order to achieve their ulterior motives. They send their children to schools abroad and leave you to your own fate. The Nigeria youth should not continue to be used by inconsequential political jejune of no value to the Nigerians.

The Nigerian youth should look behind as even the sheep in its wanderings still remembers to cast backward glances; none of the politicians can involve his son or family in the political thuggery/gangsterism and violence, it is time for youths to jog their memories and learn from the words of Dr. Rev Martin Luther King Jr when he posited that “the way of violence leads to bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers. But that the way of nonviolence leads to redemption and the creation of the beloved community.”

This is more so when one puts into consideration the overall effect of violence on the growth and development of our society, there is no doubt that thousands of lives are lost and properties worth millions of naira are usually destroyed when ever violent conflict occurs, while on the part of government monies meant for development are regrettably redirected into the maintenance of peace and security while development stagnates.

My advice to the Nigerian youths is to shun political thuggery and violence in order to make our country peaceful and the National Assembly should enact laws against political thuggery, the National orientation Agency should make a sensitization tour to enlighten Nigerians on the effect of political thuggery and violence. Traditional rulers, religious organizations, opinion molders and pressure groups should preach against violence.

• Bello Shehu Shuni

Sokoto.