Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has called on Nigerian youths not to be discouraged by the current situation of the nation.
On Saturday, August 12, 2023, to mark World Youth Day, Obi urged youths to remain steadfast and hopeful for the coming of a new Nigeria via a Twitter thread.
Obi said that the current political confusion and economic challenges in Nigeria should not discourage youths, but instead motivate them to remain committed and resolute in the struggle for a new and better Nigeria.
He also stated that unless we remain committed to the struggle for a better nation, we will not be able to achieve the New Nigeria of our dreams. We must remain resilient and persevere against every hardship and obstacle on our journey to a new nation¹.
The former Anambra governor further said that many challenges the country is facing can be tackled if leaders pay attention to youth development. He said that “the high level of insecurity and the social vices associated with youths, like drug and other substance abuse” will be whittled down if we build a better economy, where the youths are productively engaged¹.
Obi remains committed to building a new Nigeria anchored on youth development because their energy, skills, and potentials are critical ingredients needed to move our nation from consumption to production.
Obi revealed this steadfast commitment in his International Youth Day Message. He stated that the dream of rescuing the country from leadership failure will not come to fruition without the help of the youths whose future, he said, was being damaged by bad governance in the country.
“Everywhere you go in the world, the youths have always championed paradigm shifts in society. The political awakening you notice among Nigerian youths today signifies the hunger and desire in them for a better nation that represents their interests,” Obi said.
He lamented the myriad challenges facing Nigerian youths, as exemplified by a high rate of youth unemployment; little or no access to funding for small businesses; lack of good education, as testified to by the incessant industrial actions that have enveloped Nigeria’s public universities, among others, as factors militating against the success of the youths.
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He argued that such neglect of youth development is currently contributing to the nation’s woes by way of rising insecurity and violence, a very unproductive workforce and an unmatched level of drug abuse, which is currently prevalent in the country².
Obi expressed hope in the new Nigeria, where people’s talents and skills will match their opportunities in life.
“I have always maintained that the society we abuse today will take its revenge on us tomorrow. One cannot expect peace and progress in a nation where more than half of the large youth population do not know where their next meal will come from. Our students have been at home for over five months due to Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. That is not the kind of future we want to build for our young people,” Obi submitted.
He urged the government to build a nation that inspires hope in its citizens, especially the youths. He maintained that if the government continues to pay a deaf ear to the yearnings of its youthful population, Nigeria will continue to foot-drag its way to growth and development.
While wishing Nigerian youths well on the occasion of their International Youth Day Celebration, Obi encouraged them to remain of good character and conduct while contributing their quota to the growth of the country.
