By JOHNSON EBIGIDE
The Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Orientation Bureau, Eugene Azuka Uzum Esq, has called for immediate inclusiveness of the youths in the political machinery of Nigeria, towards a greater future of the country.
Uzum made the call during a weekly radio programme of the bureau with the Delta State Broadcasting Service (DBS), Asaba, titled “Prosperity For Deltans : How E Be For Your Area”.
He said that there was the urgent need to build leadership capacity in Nigerian youths, to enable them take over the leadership of the country in the near future, adding that the continuous recycling of the old politicians over the times had been a major setback in the socioeconomic and political advancement of the country.
Uzum, who recently returned from Monrovia in Liberia where he delivered lectures at a programme on youths inclusiveness in politics, lamented the disregarding of the youths for political leadership in the country, adding that a good leader was the one that built value oriented followers for the uplifting of the society.
The DG said that the inclusiveness of the youths should start from homes through proper parenting, adding that community leaders, traditional rulers and religious bodies should lend a helping hand in the moulding of the youths for leadership positions in the country, just as he frowned at the unbecoming bestowal of traditional titles on some youths without proper evaluation of them.
Uzum frowned at the unwholesome attitude of some youths, taking to fraudulent practices in a get-rich-quick propensity, adding that the old politicians who were not ready to relinquish their political positions for the youths in the country always laid claims to the lack of seriousness on the part of the youths.
He said that youths should not blame the old brigade for holding on tight to political power in the country, adding that youths should not wait for infusion of the right leadership values in them, but should inculcate mental self evaluation and shun any acts that could jeopardise their future.
The orientation helmsman commended the governor of the state, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, for the various youths empowerment programmes in the state, especially the initiative in creating the state Orientation Bureau to intensify efforts at mental reorientation of not only the youths, but the people in the state.
He said that youths in the state should study the steady rise of the governor in the political machinery of the country, adding that Governor Okowa’s mercurial political advancement was based on trustworthiness, capacity to deliver in any assignment and the fear of God.