Nigerian Youths are not Lazy – Ojo Aderemi

By : Josmat Jerry

Ojo Aderemi, former UI SUG President, was of the opinion that Nigerian youths are not lazy nor are they not well disciplined. This was made in respect of President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement at an international meeting held at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, 18 April 2018

He (Ojo Aderemi) made the statement on Saturday, April 3 during a radio program with the topic ‘The role of Youths in National Politics’ held at Pensioners’ Fm which was anchored by Pius Omang Nsabe. Other youths at present were Titilayo Ayisat Damilola and Micheal Ogunsina.

According to him (Ojo), “First of all, it is very wrong and unfortunate again that president of the country will make this in a committee of nations, where people were marketing their own youths, our president was degrading us. It is not true that Nigerian youth are not disciplined or are lazy because on a first place their attitude towards corruption can be seen in the election of the president himself.”

“He (Buhari) was brought in by young people who needed a change or who wanted a change in the system and thought the country was still corrupt. So you can see that kind of social dynamic, they thought we need to fight corruption, it’s one of the understandings of politics that made people and young people queue behind this current administration in 2015 to push out the other party which they thought was corrupt. So how can he levy such kind of accusation on the population of people who put him in power, so that’s not true (that Nigerian youth are lazy). And again, Nigerians are doing well in Arts, Technology. ”

Also from Micheal Ogunsina, a Pro-Youth Activist Politician, he was also of the opinion that Nigerian Youths are not lazy. According to his words, “Nigeria Youths are not lazy, I am not lazy, the guys are not lazy, you are disciplined, we are focused, and we are intelligent. In their generations, to have masters you have to be 35, 36, these days, 27 years, you have already started your PHD, we are doing stuffs, amazing things that they thought was impossible.”

On the performance of youths who are currently holding positions in top government offices in the country and why they’ve not been good example, Ojo Aderemi was in line with the opinion of a University of California Professor, Bettly, who says when people are in powerful positions, their character tends to change. He (Ojo Aderemi) went further, “On the average, young people have the tendency to understand the demands of new, that’s what we are saying, we are assuming they are finished product, but for the urgency of new, that’s what we are responding to. The (those in power) are old and tired, they need to retire.”

The issue on the talks of secession or restructuring of Nigeria was raised where the guests voiced their respective opinions. Ojo Aderemi was the first to speak, he said, “Emphatic NO, I am not for ethnic nationalism, I am not for ethnic jingoism, that is distraction, you see, the politics we are meant to be playing now is restructuring. A restoration to the pre 1966 setting of Nigeria, the regional government and a situation where a country is restructured and the component unit control at least 50% of their resources, 30% to a federal government and 20% to a joint account, that is what we should be looking at.”

Pro – Youth Activist Politician, Micheal Ogunsina, said, “Only few people we thought are not deep or selfish that will want secession at this level in Nigeria. I wholeheartedly agree with his (Ojo) point and argument that what we needed now is restructuring and pushing for physical federalism. For me, I believe in Nigeria, I believe in one nation, I have hope and one day Buhari will go and all of these issues will be solved.”

Titilola Ayisat, was also with the other guests on the stand of one Nigeria and restructuring with the negation of secession, she said, “I agree with them (Ojo and Micheal). I still want to believe in restructuring, the regions should be the one to control the resources”.