By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos – A former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Monday Ubani, has called on Nigerian youths to strategise on how to take control and take key decisions in 2019.
Ubani made the call on Wednesday in Lagos at a symposium organised by a Sahara Reporter, Mr Segun Akinpelu to mark his 30th birthday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event which was attended by mostly activists and youths had the theme: “Youth and Nation Building.’’
According to Ubani, Nigeria is currently faced with leadership deficit.
“Our elders are the ones determining what happens; this should not be so.
“The youth as leaders of today know what they are doing and all they need do is to strategise ways to control and take key decisions in the country.
“If the right youths come up, find themselves in position of authority, they will make great different,’’ Ubani said.
He blamed political parties for the challenges the country was currently facing.
Ubani advised youths to come up with a political party which is ideologically-based to be able to achieve its aim of changing power.
The activists advised youths to stop being on the streets but rather change the complete the story of Nigeria.
The President, Centre for Change, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, urged the youth to play leadership roles.
“To consolidate on the existing achievements of veteran activists, present day youths must immediately begin to learn from experiences and build on the experiences.
“If you do not seize the time, others are just right behind you who will seize it. So, time does not always care about you; you should care about time.
“Your present youth age is the time and I am an example. I knew many things I could do some 20 years ago with my energy, differently from the few things I could now do as adult,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.
Akinpelu urged the youth to begin to think positively on the way forward for a true federalism in Nigeria.
“This is not the time for continued carrying of placards to demand for good governance from government.
“We did it in 2011, 2015 and previous years. What did it yield?
“This is the time to strategise and come out and contest come 2019,’’ Akinpelu said.
Others who spoke at the ceremony were: Seun Kuti, the youngest son of the legendary Afro Beat originator Fela Anikulapo Kuti; a Student Activist, Femi Adeyeye; and Mr Olaleye Bolaji, National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign.