Violence and the Nigerian youth
However, unemployment and poverty in the land have continued to make it easy for these youths to be recruited by our unscrupulous politicians. Ironically, many of these moneybag politicians have relocated their children and wards abroad to a safer clime. In America, Europe, Asia, Canada etc, you will find their children attending the best universities […]
However, unemployment and poverty in the land have continued to make it easy for these youths to be recruited by our unscrupulous politicians. Ironically, many of these moneybag politicians have relocated their children and wards abroad to a safer clime. In America, Europe, Asia, Canada etc, you will find their children attending the best universities or controlling business empires established with the monies stashed away from this country.
The children of the politicians live flamboyant lives at the expense of the poor masses in Nigeria. They live in castles and drive exotic cars. Basically, they are comfortable and very far from being recruited for violence. But the children of others are being used by their heartless fathers back home to cause mayhem in the event of an election.
These politicians are so powerful that they have armouries in their homes where they have stockpiled sophisticated arms. Even when the police discover the said armouries and make arrest of their thugs, the politicians boast before the police to use every means to secure the release of their thugs within the shortest time as seen in one of the south-west states where gubernatorial re-run election was held recently.
They are so brazen that they hire spectators to celebrate them in the law courts in the event of possible arrest and arraignment. Not too long ago, one powerful politician from that geo-political zone from the ruling party turned the court premises to a Mecca of sorts by waving hands and exchanging pleasantries, even hugging with the hired “sympathizers” to intimidate his prosecutors and make the whole exercise laughable.
These mediocre politicians have made a joke of our democracy for too long. It is in this country that a former political office holder was asked to refund a certain amount of money amassed while in office only for him to buy property in a choice location in Europe few weeks after. Also in Nigeria, the whole world witnessed a broad day abduction of a sitting governor by a team of riot policemen led by an AIG acting the script of a “self-acclaimed” political godfather in one of the south-eastern states of a foremost elder statesman of blessed memory that fought for the independence and unity of this country.
They pride themselves as being “larger than life” or “untouchables”. They go scot-free, instead of rotting in prison for using public funds to finance arson, thuggery, violence, in the name of religious crises as seen in the northern part of this country. Who says the people of this country cannot live with one accord even though their religion differs? These people inter-marry and maintain very strong personal relationships and their love endures in their homes but they take the advantage of other less fortunate than them to inflict anguish, pains, and even outright killing of defenceless people in order to achieve their personal end politically, using the future of this country, the youths.
These crops of politicians channel the funds meant for the development of their region for the importation of arms and ammunition to outgun their opponents who dare them. The rate of killing in all the regions of the country is high. They have chased out the youths with the true spirit of struggle, replacing them with the youths who are ready to do their bidding. They kill, kidnap, destroy and even demand for ransom in millions of naira or dollars depending on the nationality of the victim(s) involved.
These politicians turned “mediators” never told the youths the whole truth of their resolutions with the federal government and vice-versa. I am using this medium to plead with the youths in the creek to drop their weapons and embrace peace. Let’s try to avoid any possible means that will warrant the killing of our mothers and the children we love so much.
The Nigerian youths should have a “rethink” and turn new leaves in order to bridge the gap between them and the children of the rich. Let the youths come together with one voice irrespective of their religious or political beliefs or affiliations to dialogue in any issue affecting them. If this is not done now, the politicians will continue to ruin the future of this nation without concern for our welfare, good education, food, employment, health and the rest as their children enjoy abroad.
Festus Nwaomucha wrote from [email protected]