TheNiche Lecture: Madueke laments plight of Nigerian youths

• Umahi rues poor leadership

By Valentine Amanze

Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (rtd) has lamented the plight of the Nigerian youths.

 He said that the leadership of the country was a disappointment to the youths for failure to provide gainful employment to them.

 The retired general spoke at the 2nd Annual Lecture of The Niche Newspaper in Lagos on Tuesday, October 15, 2019.

  He disclosed that during the first republic multi-national companies lined up with various incentives including brand new cars to woo the fresh graduates to work for them.

 He blamed the government for the high level of unemployment in the country because of its refusal to think outside the box.

  He wondered why the Federal Government still controls the resources of the country.

 He said that during his time as a military administrator he fought very hard for the states to control their resources.

  According to Madueke, if the states control their resources it would bring competition and make the centre less attractive.

 “Imagine if the Federal Government allows states like Enugu and Plateau to control coal, which abound in the areas. We are flaring gas we would have utilized for development in the host states. The federal government should librelise its policies to boost competition among states,” he said.

  Also, General Obi Umahi (rtd) blamed the hardship in the country to uneducated and visionless leadership.

 He wondered why Nigeria in the present century would be talking about certificates of their leaders.

  According to him, Singapore became a big economic bloc because its founding fathers embraced education.

 “You must be a first class brain before you aspire for leadership in Singapore. And the founding fathers never tolerated corruption; any suspect is penalized.

 “Until Nigeria leaders embrace education and genuinely fight corruption the hardship would continue,” he said.