Don’t support move to divide Nigeria, Jega urges youth

Alhaji Ibrahim Jega, Executive Secretary, Abuja National Mosque Management Board, on Friday urged youth not support anything that would divide the country.

Jega gave the advice shortly after a Special National Prayer organised by the Forum of Chairmen of States, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) at the Mosque in Abuja.

The executive secretary also advised them against being used as thugs by desperate politicians who would do anything to get to positions of authourity.

He stressed the need for leaders of all youths organisations to make concerted efforts toward ensuring that youths remains united for the peace and development of the country.

“The youths should not support anything that is intended to divide this country or any community. It is God almighty that put us together and we will continue to be together.

“My piece of advice to you is that you take into consideration all that you have to do to get the youth united for peaceful coexistence and development of this nation.

“God almighty in his own wisdom put this country together. I don’t believe in the assertion that Nigeria came into being by accident; it is not true.

“It is by divine design. It is the creation of God to put Hausa, Yoruba, Ibibio, Efik, Ijaw, Tiv, Kanuri and Fulani together.

“It is not an accident for us to come together, God created us to be together and so shall we remain,” Jega said.

The executive secretary urged the youth to prioritise their educational pursuit that would make them to be useful to themselves and the society in which they live.

“What I mean is that the youth should work for the certificate in which they will be awarded.

“For instance, if you have first class in Chemistry let it be first class in Chemistry when it comes to putting things into practice,” he said.

Similarly, the cleric urged the youth to shun drugs or substance abuse, adding that drug abuse was not just destroying the youth but also destroying children.

Jega advised all relevant government agencies saddled with the responsibility of fighting drug abuse to be more proactive in tackling the menace of substance abuse.

`Any nation that doesn’t control drug abuse or rates of drug abuse by the youth that country will never develop.

“There is no country in the world that can neglect its youth in whatever affairs and make progress as a nation,” he said.

Mr Sukubo Sara-Igbe, Chairman, Forum of States Chairmen, National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) called for love and tolerance among diverse ethic nationalities in Nigeria, especially the youth.