2023: Group Mobilises Young Nigerians against ‘Recycled Politicians’
Seriki Adinoyi in Jos
An inter-ethnic pressure group, We2geda has decried the poor accountability of past political leaders in Nigeria who only make promises but never fullfil them, calling on electorate to unite against such recycled politicians that have never been accountable to Nigerians in 2023.
Addressing the press during the official inauguration of We2geda in Jos, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the youth group drawn from across religious divides, Alhaji Hussaini AbdulKarim said it was unfortunate and disheartening that after elections, elected leaders shun the electorate that voted them to power, and refuse to be accountable to them.
He said the group was being inaugurated across all the geopolitical zones to sensitize Nigerians against politicians that only abandon them to their fate after elections, adding that it was high time youths took over governance from these recycled politicians.
He added that the choice of Jos for the inauguration was made considering that it is a melting point for all Nigerians.
AbdulKarim said: “If in every electoral ward We2geda brings 250 persons of like minds, Nigeria will produce the best of leaders, not the ones that will take us for granted.”
In an opening remark, Hon Shina Peller said: “The official launch of We2geda as meant to mobilize youths and technocrats to have a rethink on electing political leaders in 2023, and to caution them to have a new way of seeing politics.
Represented by Adebo Jonathan, Peller said: “Respect is reciprocal; our leaders do not expect us to respect them when they don’t live up to their obligations towards us.”
“Most of our leaders in government today benefitted from government in terms of free education, free healthcare, and the like, but today, the same people have deprived the masses of these benefits because of their bad governance.
We have therefore decided to mobilize against these leaders and ensure that they don’t make their ways back to power.”
In his contribution, a member of the group, Stanley Akpa warned that there was no better time for Nigerians to put their acts together to choose good leaders than now. He advised Nigerians to embrace We2geda with members cutting across ethnicity and religions in order to form a productive government that will benefit all Nigerians.
The keynote speaker, Comrade Luka Pampe said it was high time electorate set agenda for politicians rather than allowing them to set the agenda; “we have to be able to tell the politicians what we want and not the other way round.
“We cannot continue to recycle politicians that have refused to work for our interest. They use money, religion and ethnicity to divide us. Since 1999 that Nigeria returned to democracy, how have our politicians made life better for us? All they have given to us is ASUU strike, power failure, fuel scarcity, insecurity and inflation. We are now saying ‘Enough is Enough.’
