By Cajetan Mmuta
A Coalition of Southern and Middle Belt Youth Leaders Assembly (COSMBYLA) on Monday tasked Nigerians to ensure that only youths are elected into the presidency and governorship seats during the 2023 general elections in the country.
They stated that the election of youth leaders with the interest of the country at heart would help to advance the cause of the country toward sustainable development.
A statement signed by leaders of the group drawn from the Southeast, South-South, Southwest, and the Middle Belt zones, and made available to newsmen in Awka Anambra state capital, the group led by its President-General, Mr. Goodluck Ebem said electing youths who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavor remains the panacea to bringing Nigeria out of the woods.
They said, “It is on record that when Nigeria was on the path of progress and development, youths were in charge of the helm of affairs.”
According to them, “General Yakubu Gowon as head of state at the age of 27. Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu was 33 when he was in charge of the Eastern region. These leaders contributed positively to the growth of their regions and the nation at large.”
The group noted that “Of the truth, the nation fed well when young, energetic and vibrant young men and women were in-charge of governance and leadership positions. The nation’s independence that we are enjoying today was made possible by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Professor Eni Njoku, and others who were youths at that time. They worked assiduously and fought gallantly to actualize our independence as a nation in 1960.”
They said the positive contributions and impacts of youths to nation-building cannot be overemphasized, adding that youths are key to national development and growth, just as they are agents of change, progress, and sustainable peace.
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“Vibrant, visionary, and energetic youths elected as governors and President will birth a new Nigeria and lead the country to the promised land. The youths have the capacity to bridge the gap of leadership deficit, divisions, and ethnic hate that is a fly in the ointment and damper to the progress and development of the nation.”
“Their role in the workforce and economic development of our nation is critical as they represent, at any given moment, one-third of the workforce in our country. In these times of change and conflict, young people also have an important role in deterring and solving conflicts and are key constituents in ensuring the success of both peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts”.
“We call on youths to rise up and take the bull by the horn by coming out to take up leadership positions. The time to complain and murmur is over. Enough is Enough. We must take what is rightfully ours. The time is now,” they stated.
