By Giwa SHILE
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth, Sport and Culture, Mr Daniel Dan’auta, on Sunday counseled Nigerian youths to shun thuggery in 2019 general election.
He said it was inimical to national growth.
Dan’auta gave the advice during a rally and sensitisation campaign organised by an NGO, Arewa Youth Trust Foundation, held at PZ in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The sensitisation campaign with the theme: “Creating Safe Space for Youths around the World’’ was to commemorate the 2018 World Youth Day as declared by the United Nations.
The commissioner, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Malam Muktar Muhammad, cautioned youths to be mindful of selfish politicians who would like to use them for self-aggrandisement.
“When somebody asks you to participate in hooliganism, please ask him to bring his child so that you can go together and do whatever he or she wants done.
“Thuggery is, by all standards, not good; hence, the need for all of us to avoid it to pave way for peaceful and successful elections come 2019,’’ the commissioner said.
The Chairman of Arewa Youth Trust Foundation, Alhaji Fahad Ahmed-Chikaji, in his address at the event said it invited youths from different spheres of life to be educated on how to conduct themselves during elections.
Ahmed-Chikaji said: “The essence is to educate you on problems facing Nigeria, especially, on the forthcoming general elections.
“Our youths are being used as thugs during campaigns thus resulting into clashes, fighting, injuries and many other problems that are not healthy for the society and the nation at large.
“Some kill themselves after taking drugs and at the end of the day, those that engaged them will not even care to look after them after politics is over; this is painful.
“Therefore, we want to educate the youth on the need to discover their potential and understand their importance in the field of politics.’’
Ahmed-Chikaji lamented that some youths were fond of selling their voter cards, adding that there was the need to enlighten them on the dangers inherent in such act.
“They should not sell their voter cards but use them to cast their votes during elections for candidates of their choices.’’
He said some used to stay away from exercising their franchise, claiming that there was no need for them to vote because the winners had already been decided.
The chairman said: “We want the youth to know the importance of casting their votes and the importance of registering and collecting voter’ cards; it is the only weapon to elect credible leaders of choice.
“If you don’t vote, then you will have no right to complain that those elected in public offices are not doing the right thing, because you didn’t vote them.
“We call on our people to shun begging and hawking; rather, we should endeavour to send our children to school to become future leaders,’’ he said.
TBI Africa reports that the officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) addressed the participants at the event.
Also, officials from the Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency attended the sensitization campaign.
