The Action Democratic Party (ADP) says its attention has been drawn to the
comments of president Muhammadu Buhari at the CHOGM held in London where
the president described Nigerian youths as lazy and those who want to sit
down and do nothing because they feel that Nigeria is an oil producing
nation.
The ADP Publicity Secretary in Lagos, Prince Adelaja Adeoye, speaking
during the commissioning of the party’s secretariat in Alimosho on
Thursday, said that he is shocked that a president of a country can make
such derogatory remarks about his fellow citizens; citizens that he swore
an oath to make lives better for.
He said that, at such a stage, it is expected of the president to use the
opportunity to woo investors, clearly stating that our youths are equipped
with skills that can help them make the best out of their investment but
instead, our president decided to take a swipe at our young and vibrant
population.
The party says that a country is assessed not by their old men but by
their youths who are the strength and the builders of the said country.
Adelaja also says that he is a youth and has seen how his fellow youths
work menial jobs, put themselves through school and create wealth for
themselves in a choking business environment like that of Nigeria
presently under Buhari.
He argues further that for a man who has supervised the loss of over 10
million jobs since 2015, the comments are even more insulting. “I have
never seen any group of people anywhere in the world more determined to
make it against all odds than our youths,” Adelaja said.
The ADP says that it is proud of the Nigerian youth and what they have
been able to achieve thus far even without the least support from
government noting that Nigerian youths are shining examples all over
Africa and the world. The party says that it is proud of the exploits of
the Nigerian youths in business, showbiz, entertainment, sports,
education, music and every other sector where they have held their own.
The party says that this is why their focus is on the Nigerian youths who
are the actual builders of any society. The party urges the youths in
Nigeria to continue to shine in every field of their endeavour even as
they register to get their PVCs to be able to vote in youth friendly
leaders in the coming elections.