Tina Amanda
The factional Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter, Comrade Bani Samuel, says the youth body is yet to endorse any candidates or political party for the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Comrade Samuel who stated this while briefing journalist in Port Harcourt, maintained that the State Youth body will not endorse a candidate that has not presented a visible track record of performance.
According to him, no candidate will get the support of Rivers Youths from the back door, without telling the youth their Master plan for the development of Rivers youths.
“Arising from the state Management Committee Meeting held on Sunday 17 July, 2022, we wish to express our great disaffection and displeasure on certain burning state issues which have become a norm under the current administration.
“First, let me begin with the purported endorsement and match for one Sim Fubara who is a gubernatorial candidate on the platform of one of the political parties.
“Let it be known today to Rivers people, Nigerians and the world at large that there has never been a time that the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Rivers State ever endorsed any candidate or political party for the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“What has been playing out is that some sycophantic leaders of a political party in the state planted one of their Cronies to disgustingly function as the state party youth leader under the umbrella of the NYCN so as to sow a seed of discord among the youths and therefore attempting to silence the authentic Leadership of the Youths in the state.
“It is impossible for NYCN to endorse a candidate that has not presented a visible track record of performance, nor has he any master Development plan. Few days after the Primaries, he pays people to go on the street to march in his favour, so as to gain cheap popularity.
“It is premature Ejaculation to feel that anybody will get the support of Rivers Youths from the back door, without telling us their master plan for the development of Rivers youths. This is in retrospect to 2015 and 2019 Governorship elections in Rivers State, where the current Governor of Rivers state emerged without presenting any master Plan.
“What we are experiencing now is an emergency erection of overhead bridges that is not solution driven, nor reflect the current needs of the people of Rivers state, which have relegated Rivers state two decades behind in
underdevelopment.
“In as much as Rivers Youths will not buy into the allegation on the said candidate for the embezzlement of over one hundred (100) billion naira by the EFCC, we urge him not to be afraid to consult Rivers state Youths whom he wishes should hire him for the Guber Job despite his recent actions”.
The Youth Leader further expressed displeasure on the unpaid gratuity, pensions and other
“The constant deception meted out on our very senior citizens in the persons of pensioners concerning their gratuities has been of utmost concern to the Youth Council and we hereby admonish Rivers state government to make the procedure for payment less cumbersome, by decentralizing it on local government basis where the various local government headquarters will be used for the exercise.
“The Youth Council under our watch also frowns at the deafness of government towards the cries of the citizens. You will recall that few days ago, Rivers State Governor announced it plans to construct two additional overhead bridges at Rumukwuta and Mgbouba axis of the city.
“Residents, business and shop owners in these areas have cried out openly asking government to rescind its plans but their cries definitely falls on the deafening ears of government, such a government cannot be termed a people oriented government. It is likened to a Parable of a Father giving stone to the child, who ask for bread.
“The current administration has been more of an elitists oriented government than a people oriented one, hence, their boldness to do whatever they want without feeling the people’s impulses.
“After now, I am sure that in a watery and slippery defense mechanism, they will tell you that Rivers youths are employed with construction giants via the various overhead bridge constructions in the state. The question we should ask them is “How many of their kids, nephews, nieces and relatives work there?”
“It is most appalling to hear a government not boosting of how many industries it has created, graduates it has employed, scholarships it has awarded (local and foreign), millionaires it has raised in seven years but rather, overrated overhead bridges it has constructed in four years.
“In the 21st Century, ascribing record breaking to construction of overhead bridges at the detriment of your citizens welfare and wellbeing is the height of loss of touch with the people you claim to govern. It shows how backward Rivers State has been in the last seven years and counting”.
He also called on all Rivers youths and residents to massively arm themselves with their Permanent Voters Card PVC as the New electoral Acts now assures people that their votes counts, noting that rigging is now a thing of the past, following the Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun states Elections.
“Let me also use this medium to call on all Rivers youths and residents to massively arm themselves with their Permanent Voters Card PVC because the new electoral Acts now assures us that our votes now count and rigging is now a thing of the past. We assure you that your votes will now count.
“I call on the Christian community to know that their prayers are as important as their Permanent Voters Card PVC. Let every believer who is of voting age get their PVCs because, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC will not in February and March 2023 count prayer points but votes and votes can only be counted via the presentation of our voters cards at our different polling units.
“Going forward, the Council will take the voters card registration message to all tertiary institution and campuses in the State”.
Comrade Samuel, however, said that the Youth Council will be forced to join the students community and ASUU on a solidarity match to shutdown the Nigerian economy, if further attempts are made to still keep students at home.
“We bemoan the Buhari-led administration for not being able to find a solution to the impasse between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU).
“We shall be watching with keen interest the implementation of the presidential marching order given to the Ministers of Education and Labour to end the ongoing strike with ASUU in the next two weeks.
“Attempts to further keep our students at home will force the Council to join the students community and ASUU on a solidarity match to shutdown the Nigerian economy till the students are recalled to campus”.
