By Ummi Ismaeel, Minna
Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello of Niger State has said that Nigeria’s problems was multi-sectoral corruption and not about age of its leadership.
He spoke in Minna, the state capital, yesterday, while disagreeing with those clamouring for hand over power to “new generation youths’’.
His words: “What Nigeria and Nigerians need is a change of attitude towards what belong to generality of Nigerians or national cake, a change in orientation that would require us to love fellow citizens devoid of religious, tribal or political differences and more.”
Bello spoke at a two-day training/5th edition of “Get Involved Leadership Training” for women and youths in the state on engaging for a new Nigeria which took place at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International conference centre.
He said that the likes of former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and other young military officers assumed topmost positions as youths and singles due to the dynamism of what Nigeria was then which could not be compared to present day Nigeria.
“There is corruption everywhere, in every segments of the Nigerian society, including in public and private sector and even in familiess and except a change of orientation to the way we see and do things for the Nigeria of our collective dream,” the governor said.
Bello also said that he was worried that, though Nigeria was blessed with most intelligent people you can think of doing great globally, the country was also richly blessed with numerous natural resources that many other developed countries lacked and they were doing well, yet Nigeria’s problems were rather getting more complicated.
“Those in leadership position are always accused of corruption,” he said, adding, “It is not about the President, it is not about the Governors, Senators or others but it has to do with the generality of Nigerians changing their attitude from bad to good in whatever they do”.
Also, Shina Abiola Peller, the chairman, Lead Generation Initiatives, said that the training geared towards encouraging young Nigerians to work towards becoming part of mainstream politics ahead of 2023 general election, not as spectators.
One of the greatest hinderances to women and youth’s participation in active politics, Peller argued was the dearth of funds, adding that 50 youths; two from each of the 25 Local Government Areas that benefited from the training would go a long way in making desired impact ahead of the next dispensation.
Peller said, “The message today is simple and clear, seek to getting informed, show interest in national discourse, join a political party, get involved because with our numbers, we should have the largest stake in governance”.
“The year 2023 presents a huge opportunity for everyone intrested in active politics as there would not be incumbent President contesting at the polls therefore it is the best to say there would be a level playing ground for all’’.
Niger State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Emmanuel Umar, had said the leadership training programme with 50 youths drawn from across the 25 participating was expected to provide beneficiaries with skills that would encourage them to be involved in service delivery in their respective rural communities.
