Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has expressed concern over what he described as the growing exploitation of Nigerian youths for political activities.
Lamido spoke on Sunday in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, during an engagement with young Nigerians.
The former governor said he deliberately opted to meet with youths rather than organise a traditional gathering involving political elites because of his concerns about the future of the country and the challenges confronting the younger generation.
According to him, political leaders have failed to provide adequate mentorship and character development for young Nigerians.
Lamido said leaders had a responsibility to instil values such as empathy, brotherhood, tolerance and mutual respect in the younger generation.
“We, the leaders, have abandoned Nigerian youths in terms of moulding them, character formation, inculcating brotherhood, sisterhood, human empathy and all those values that make human beings,” he said.
He questioned why the present generation of leaders could not provide young Nigerians with the same guidance and opportunities that previous generations received.
Lamido also criticised the use of youths as political machinery, noting that many young people were being drawn into political activities without adequate preparation for leadership.
“In the next 35 years, we will not be here. Why, then, are we using our future, our youths, as political machinery and political labourers?” he asked.
The former governor expressed concern that some youths were increasingly being exposed to political activities involving thuggery, hatred, abuse and disrespect rather than constructive debates centred on ideas and policies.
He also criticised the practice of mobilising young people around individual politicians instead of political principles, saying such an approach could deepen divisions among youths.
Lamido urged young Nigerians across political parties, including the PDP, All Progressives Congress (APC) and African Democratic Congress (ADC), to avoid treating one another as enemies.
“Whether you are in PDP, APC, ADC or any other political party, you share so much in common as a youth. Therefore, while you are in your own political party, you should not be enemies,” he said.
He called on political leaders and other stakeholders to invest more in the intellectual, moral and leadership development of Nigerian youths through quality education, employment opportunities, mentorship and character formation.
Lamido noted that previous generations benefited from the guidance of political leaders, elders, religious institutions and other societal structures, which helped shape their values and leadership abilities.
He therefore urged current leaders to provide similar opportunities for young Nigerians, stressing that the country’s future would depend largely on how effectively its youths are prepared to take up leadership responsibilities.
The former governor further called on youths across Nigeria’s geopolitical regions to recognise their shared interests and responsibilities, regardless of their political affiliations.
He said sustainable national development would be better achieved when young Nigerians are prepared for leadership based on competence, integrity, tolerance and a sense of national responsibility.
