Ogheneruona Ekpobedafe
By Samuel Ogude
Nigerian youths have been called upon to be focused and remain united with a view to building a formidable and virile nation. This call was made by Concerned Niger Delta Youths for Peace, a socio-political group in Warri. Speaking in Warri, the Executive Co-ordinator of the group, Ogheneruona Ekpobedafe said youths should shun the idea of leaving the country on the excuse that the economy is bad adding, if everyone decides to leave the country, there would be no body to build on the structure for the betterment of all.
According to Ekpobedafe, “if all of us, youths, leave this country on the pretext that there is no employment, that the economy is bad generally, there would be nobody to fix things right.” Ekpobedefe was of the opinion that if the leadership of country is left in the hands of the old population and the young generation are not on ground, there would be no place called Nigeria.
Ekpobedafe added, “the youths’ complaints have always been that the old generation took over leadership positions in Nigeria. They are angling to rule. But if we cannot wait to assume the position of leadership and decide to run away to other countries, what will be fate of our dear beloved country?” Ekpobedefe said that, in spite of the fact that Nigeria is facing some challenges especially in the areas of employment for youths, infrastructural decay, decay in education sector among others, there is still hope for a better Nigeria. According to him, with all these challenges, the onus is still upon the youths to take decisive steps to fix them if the old leadership cannot fix them before they pass on.
Ekpobedefe noted these challenges bedeviling the country has these challenges predates the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding, “most of these challenges facing the country were inherited by the President Tinubu’s administration. These issues cannot be addressed automatically but gradually, President Tinubu is doing everything possible to right the wrongs”.
Ekpobedafe spoke further, “the youths are aware that the current economic, security, education and challenges we face at present did not start today. It has been there before the advent of this present administration. In fact, it is this administration that most of these challenges are being fixed and l know with time, these challenges would be a thing of the past”. While appreciating Nigerian youths for their hard work, resilience, patience and peaceful disposition despite the current different challenges in the country, Ekpobedefe urged them to continue to do what is right as there is light at the end of the tunnel.
He charged them to be educated, and those who cannot be educated formally should learn vocational skills or trades that would put food on their tables just as charged them not to engage in social vices such as kidnapping, child trafficking, armed robbery, banditry or be used by anyone to cause ethnic crisis in the country especially Warri and its environs.