December 01, 2015
His Excellency
President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR
Aso Rock Villa
Abuja
Your Excellency,
I didn't thought it necessary to write you this open letter
not even when you are not up to one year in office but I am compel to express
my feeling and make it known to you after your recent visit to Malta to attend
meeting of Commonwealth Head of Government. I was impressed to see you having a
discussion with AHMED ADAMU, the Chairperson and President of Commonwealth
Youth Council who coincidentally happened to come from your state.
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Your Excellency, I may not have known the content of your
discussion with Ahmed Adamu but as a father, you were proud to have one of your
sons superintend on the highest youth group on the face of the earth covering
53 Commonwealth countries. That is the more reason why I posted the picture of
that discussion here.
Sir, I recalled vividly that early 2014, Ahmed Adamu
gathered young people across the country to serve as Peace Advocates in
preparation for the 2015 general election. Many of us paid our way to be in
Abuja just for the sake of peace in the country. We went out to work without
any support anywhere and that effort paid off as the casualties of 2015 general
election was reduced to its lowest minimum compare to previous elections which
you participated. Sir, I recalled that Ahmed Adamu led some youth at the National
level to sign a Peace Accord with you and immediate past President, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan. I made bold to submit here that you are the greatest
beneficiary of that peace accord.
Though I didn’t vote you and I don’t have any reason to have
voted you because as a youth advocate, I think young people should be given
space in leadership. As a child, I used to admire your picture as military head
of state especially with your smiling face. I still remember the War Against
Indiscipline (WAI) you introduced in the country as a military leader. It
brought orderliness to the system but that was 30 years ago. Today, the global
community is pushing for youth inclusion in governance.
Let me publish here the
word of United Nations Secretary General message to young people across the
globe on Youth International Day Celebration. He said and I quote,
“Emerging threats, violent extremism, shifting political conditions,
economic turmoil and social transformations are combining to heighten the
challenges facing the world’s young people.
No one knows better than them the issues at stake or the best way to
respond. That is why I am calling on
young people to speak out and I am urging leaders to listen.
As the world changes with unprecedented speed, young people are proving
to be invaluable partners who can advance meaningful solutions. Youth movements and student groups are
challenging traditional power structures and advocating a new social contract
between States and societies. Young
leaders have contributed fresh ideas, taken proactive measures and mobilized
through social media as never before.
I applaud the millions of young people who are protesting for rights
and participation, addressing staggering levels of youth unemployment, raising
their voices against injustice and advocating global action for people and the
planet.
In this landmark year, as leaders prepare to adopt a bold new vision
for sustainable development, the engagement of youth is more valuable than
ever. At this critical moment in
history, I call on young people to demand and foster the dramatic progress so
urgently needed in our world.
Volunteerism is an ideal way to improve society and it is open to
virtually everyone. Youth can also join
forces with the United Nations as we move from forging the new sustainable
development goals to implementing them.
That spirit of action is embodied in the theme of this International
Day: “Youth and Civic Engagement”. I
stand with the world’s young people in calling for measures to secure human
rights, economic progress, environmental stewardship and social inclusion.
This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations
Charter and the twentieth anniversary of the World Programme of Action for
Youth. In support of their aims, my
Youth Envoy is helping to mobilize this largest generation of young people in
history. As he says, youth engagement
can help turn the world we want into the world we deserve. Let us all support young people in creating a
future where our planet is protected and all people live in dignity.”
Your Excellency, the global economy is driven with the
inclusion of young people in governance. It is very unfortunate that the youngest
among your cabinet minister is a 49 year old. Sir, turning your back against
young people who used the social media to campaign for you which culminated to
your emergence as the President of Nigeria is a breach of social contract that
you have with the youth that they will have space in your government. Nigeria
has in abundance young people who are ready to bring their ideas and
innovations to bear in governance to drive the change mantra of your
administration. They must be given a place on the table. The threat that
Nigeria and other countries are experiencing today is the handiwork of young
people. They have solutions to some of the challenges confronting our country
today and until they are integrated into the mainstream of governance, change
will only be a mantra without corresponding action.
It is on this note that I appeal to you to appoint young
people to serve as your Innovation Center to drive governance in the country. They
know the problem and they are the solution to the problems. The Ahmed Adamu,
Sam Itodo, Kingsley Bangwell, Audu Maikori, Hassan Rilwan, Nkiruka Nnaemego,
Cynthia Umoru, Fela Durotoye, Gbenga Sesan, Sandra Duru, Hafsat Abiola, David
Balami, Dayo Israel, Olajide Williams, John Dabiri, Ndubuisi Ekekwe, Wana
Udobang of this world should not be allow to waste away. They have something to
offer this country and it is evidence in what they are doing at the moment. I
bet you that with such young people to be part of governance in the country,
change will be a reality. Space will not permit me to publish their dossier
here but I think Mr. President will consider the need to engage some of these
young people and see what they have to offer the country. People should not be
campaigning for politician before they are given a place in governance. The
President must think about having them as back-up for democracy to wear a human
face in Nigeria.
May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ubong David is a social critic and advocate of youth inclusion
in democratic governance.
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