Nigerian youths have been exhorted to abstain from violence by Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai because the nation cannot afford another civil war like the one that erupted in 1967 and claimed over two million lives.
El-Rufai further urged National Youth Service Corps participants in the general elections of 2023 to refrain from being utilised as conduit pipes in election rigging.
The governor made this statement on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. He spoke during the closing ceremony of the orientation programme held for 2022 Batch B (Stream 2) NYSC corps members.
El-Rufai claimed that the civil war was an unnecessary act of barbarism that the nation could not afford to repeat. He was represented by the state’s acting governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe.
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He said, “The youth must remember that the NYSC came into being after the civil war that tore every fabric of the Nigerian state. The war was needless savagery that we cannot afford to repeat.
“Nigerian youths must therefore distance themselves from fanning the embers of violence and war in Nigeria. As a country, we must avoid a repeat of that dark part of our history…Nigerian youths must refuse to be ready tools for warmongers.
“My dear valuable corps members, I believe you have the capacity to defend what is good for our dear country…What shall build a united Nigeria and you shall not fail to do what is right for your dear country. After all, the major objective of establishing the NYSC is to promote Nigeria’s unity and enhance development.
“The national youth service is a reflection of the hope that we have placed on our young graduates as torch bearers of a greater Nigeria. You must prove to us that this is not a misplaced hope. We expect you to be innovative, industrious, and consistently demonstrate acts of tolerance, open-mindedness, and perseverance in all that you do.”
On the role of the corps members during elections; El-Rufai said as representatives of the youths, the corps members must shun corruption during the election and be responsible.
