This is as the organisation expressed worry that if the people with power and at the helm of affairs were found guilty of disrupting public peace, there cannot be unity.
The CCAI made the submission during the public presentation of a document titled, ‘Report of the Youth Conversation for New Nigeria’, obtained by journalists in Abuja on Thursday with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Netherlands), Oxfam International Nigeria, Impact Central Social Innovation Hub, National Youth Council of Nigeria and Nigeria Youth Parliament (5th Session).
The civil society organisation said desperate politicians are fueling disunity and violence to achieve selfish political ends during the forthcoming general elections in 2023.
The Founder/Chief Executive of CCAI, Olalekan Oshunkoya, explained that the report followed a nationwide consultation convened as a series of youth-led consultations, community town halls sessions, focus group discussions and one on one interviews, designed to canvas ideas, thoughts and opinions from Nigerian youths while advancing the ‘New Nigeria’ narrative.
While giving out the concerns raised by the youths as Nigeria prepares for the election in 2023, Oshunkoya said if politicians had shown leadership, the country would not have been plunged into its current state in which the youths were hired as touts to disrupt peaceful political gatherings or elections.
He said, “The consultation from young Nigerians shows how disappointed the youths are with the nonchalant attitude our government shows over issues that are bothersome to most Nigerians. From insecurity to employment to education, just to mention a few. The country lacks visionary and empathetic leaders who will understand the pain an average Nigerian is passing through and can communicate with their needs.
“Politicians are fueling disunity and violence to political ends. Young Nigerians point to politicians as one major cause of disunity in the country. During elections, we have seen and heard our politicians playing the tribal and religious card to win votes thereby causing national tension in that state or community. Not only that, the youth also express their disappointment in the fact that the majority of the politicians fund touts to disrupt peaceful gatherings or elections.
“When the people with power and at the helm of affairs are the ones guilty of disrupting our peace and unity, how can there be unity? This is a concern that needs to be addressed if truly we want to see unity.
“Because of the selfishness of our leaders, most Nigerians just want to “japa” to a foreign country. The country now runs a system that rewards unpatriotic citizens or leaders with political appointments and positions and the patriotic ones are left to fade away. The political leaders are more interested in sharing the national cake that favours only the elite.”
Speaking on the agitations for secession, Oshunkoya stated that some agitator groups are disrupting the dream of a new Nigeria because they feel sidelined.
According to him, the government should dialogue with the separatist groups about their concerns without force or violence and reach a common ground.
“We believe that the federal structure of this country needs to be in a way that citizens do not feel marginalized. No tribe, religion or geopolitical zone should have more seats at the national table than others. If this term is not renegotiated, the country will continue to experience agitation which is a threat to our dream country.
“Our diversity is a strength and must be leveraged for collective prosperity and not exploited: The youths do not want their diversity to be used as tools to create disunity and disrupt the peace in the country. Our diversity should be a source of strength that should be used for collective prosperity.
“The federal character principle should be encouraged and federal appointment should be shared equally among all tribes. This the young people believe will solve the problem of the agitators wanting to split the country. For peace and unity, No tribe should be more favored over another. All Nigerians should have a chance and a table at the federal seat, the Federal Character appointment should be encouraged”, Oshunkoya said.
