ActionAid Nigeria, a non governmental organization has called on government at all level to step up the fight against corruption and the growing trend of unemployment in the country.
Actionid Nigeria Country Director Ene Obi disclosed this in Lokoja on Friday, at the closing ceremony of the 2021 peace camp for 500 youths in Kogi State organized by Actionaid Nigeria in collaboration with Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID) said corruption in the country has denied many Nigerians their right to good governance from their leaders.
The week long peace camp is in pursuance of the System and Structure Strengthening Approach against Radicalization to Violent Extremism (SARVE II) project in Kogi and Nasarawa States, is aimed at building community resilience against radicalization and Violent Extremism (VE), with funding by Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund, (GCERF).
The country director who explained that Nigeria challenges needs a call for sober reflection added that many leaders who had promoted corruption, insecurity and preventing Nigerian youths not to get employment opportunities because of their selfish interest should be put behind bars irrespective of their position, class, political affiliations or ethnicity.
While admitting that the government must be responsible for the well-being of it’s citizenry, Obi urged the present administration to invest more in human capital to develop the nations economy and to prevent it from total collapse.
She said many Governors who did not pay salaries during their tenure are now sitting comfortable in the senate instead of languishing in jail.
Her words” Corruption is a canca-worm in the Nigeria system.
There are many Nigerian’s rooming around the street without job. The looting of the economy is the one responsible for us not having enough to provide public good. That is why we are saying that we can get it right.
“The Constitution of Nigeria is there to guide us. We said arise oo compatriot. The pledge that we introduce to the young people, if adult are not upholding it, what are we telling the young people.
” They are not stupid, they are looking at what you are doing. So it starts from the law. Any body who violate the constitution of Nigeria or even the pledge they swear to, sanction is needed to be melted to them and not put them in a place that they are in a save heaven.
“Like many governors who did not paying salaries, many of them are not sitting comfortable in the senate and all of that, when they should be in jail. Sanction is needed to be melted in the course of social justice. We have to be able to respect the law and the right of the people. The way you create role model is when you have elders standing up for Nigerians. We are asking them to stand upright for Nigeria”
Speaking on the 61st independence anniversary of Nigeria, the Actionaid country director said Nigeria has what it takes to get things right among comity of nations.
Obi however lamented the nation’s current debts profile of Nigeria at 61 described it as unacceptable.
” We are hearing now that Nigeria is owing so much. Nigeria that used to give loans to other country is now the one that is owing the world. And what that means is that when u are bearing the debt burden, it subjugate you to all your decisions and so you cannot provide public good. And So we are saying that, Nigeria at 61, it is a call for reflection.
“We need to think the insanity level that makes people to steal. We need to come back the record, and remove the insanity and come back to sanity. Every one should re-dedicate themselves to Nigeria”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly Prince Mathew Kolawole said there is hope in the youth of Nigeria adding that youths have the future in their hand.
According to him, the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria is not negotiable stressing that youths remains a strong driver of Nigeria unity.
” We politicians know that during election, youths vote more, protect their votes. If youths believe in themselves that they can make it, am seeing a brighter future for Nigeria” he added.
On her part, the Executive Director, Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development, (PIBCID), Halima Oiza Sadiq said 500 youths in Kogi State that participated in the 2021 peace camp have been trained to be an advocate of peace building and to always stand against violent extremism in their respective communities.
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