The Role Of Youth In Ensuring The Political Security Of The Nation

A speech delivered at the NANS/JCC Bauchi/Gombe Axis, lecture & Award presentation ceremony on 19^th September, 2006 at A.T.A. Polytechnic (Main Campus) Auditorium Hall – Bauchi.

By:

Comrade Abdullahi Yalwa (SCN) Secretary BAZYF

All protocols duly observed

It gives me an unexplainable pleasure to stand before this auspicious gathering and deliver this most awaited presentation considering the bulk of our audience (youth) and indeed the political temperament of our environment. I therefore commend the organizers for their foresight and for finding me worthy of this job.

United Nations Organization loosely defined the youth as any person (mixed gender) whose age falls within 18 – 40 years. This group no doubt represents the vibrant and most productive age, thus they are referred to as the backbone of any development, hence any negative consequence brought to bear on this age bracket invariably stunts the growth of mankind entirely. Human resources especially when balanced with economic resources are believed world over to be the most reliable short cut to development and youth being the most essential segment of human beings as pointed out above ought to be treated with great care and concern.

On the other side, to understand political security is to understand the concept of politics itself as well as security, thus Moa Tsetung defines politics as war without blood shed. This implies peaceful struggling to achieve political goals without violence or blood letting. Max Waver sees, politics as who get what, when, where and how. This means that, politics is a process of attaining set goals in the society-these goals could either be political power, it could as well be economic or social goals. Other authorities viewed politics as the authoritative allocation of values. This suggests that, politics has to do with the use of power to allocate values in the society. These include security of lives and properties, laws and policies for the benefit of humanity as a whole.

Central to the above three definitions is that, politics is a process through which human beings interacts to attain or achieve set goals which might be power or authority, economic interest, or any positive policy, programme, agenda geared toward battening the society at large.

Long Man dictionary of contemporary English defines security “as things that are done in order to keep someone or something safe” Political security therefore connotes, keeping the political process or atmosphere free from attack or harm from within and out side the system. The idea of political security in Nigeria becomes more pronounce because political insecurity have threatening the existence of Nigeria as a nation, right from 1960 to date manifesting itself in different faces and facets sometimes called social-unrest, ethnics clash and sometime religions disharmony all of which if critically examine have political inclinations.

In Nigeria, we are quite familiar with conflicts which according to Dr. Garba Ibrahim (2002) is an integral part of human society but noted violent conflict as avoidable. The nation fought a destructive civil war (violent conflict) between 1967 and 1970; of recent there have been several cases of intra and inter group conflicts of different types and dimensions – Umaru A. pate, 2002. As preparations for 2007 general elections are on top gear, youth in the nation have been taken for granted and perhaps misinterpreted, as synonymous to violence that can cheaply be manipulated and used as threats against political opponents right from kindergarten to the highest political seat. “Opposing” youth groups across the nation are maneuvered to hit one another machete for machete, cutlass for cutlass, stick for stick and in some cases gun for gun; the situation of which doesn’t only left both side of the youth with causalities but also innocent citizen and valuable properties that could aid our development victimized, molested and destroyed.

The youth are said to be the leaders of tomorrow, but not without preparations. Shoddy upbringing, drug abuse, crime and importantly to this paper political thuggery threaten this tomorrow. It is worth mentioning here that the older the person the more difficult it would be to change his behaviour, it is a social law. It is therefore very timely for us as young persons to come together and identify what we should do to better your tomorrow and that of generations yet unborn.

Before commenting on our political scenario, I intend to briefly x-ray unemployment as an excuse offered by most youth for their wrong doing. However, let me also make it profoundly clear, that, there is no justification or reason whatsoever for any person to perpetually remain in doing wrong particularly violent conflict for where your right ends some one’s own commence; hence as you have the right to live you also have the duty to let others live successfully.

UNEMPLOYMENT

Although there are several opportunities for self-employment to our youth, but unfortunately, most of us look down on such job opportunities. The result is that, several groups across the localities are formed with a collection of unemployed youths patronizing such sitting groups discussing issues of non-relevance. Such places have become places of gossips, backbiting and several irresponsible actions. No wonder that, such youths are used by selfish politicians to instigate political violence. After all ‘an idle minds is a devil workshop”. Some jobless youth are constantly blaming the elders for their unemployment status. These elders or some of them have done and are doing their best to find employment to responsible youth. However, the criticism of such youth against the elders in the position of authority might be right. They thought some of such elders are in a position to employ handsome number of youth in several capacities but had failed to do so. While this accusation might be true with others, it is at the same time being unfair to many. Where I feel such elders will be found wanting in the light of the above, is in establishing small scale firms; advising or even coercing the government to establish small scale industries; and or reactivate ailing ones so that job opportunities will further be provided and new businesses and businessmen encouraged. This I believe will discourage the continued spread of gossiping centres and idle/wicked minds, thereby improving our political security as a nation.

POLITICS

This is the most difficult aspect that is capable of dividing not only the elders and the youth, but also the whole entity. One most understand the reason why some of our respected elders defy politics completely because of its nature in our nation. To preserve your honour today and uphold your respect, you don’t get involved in politics. But this is not helping matters. Half illiterates are being sponsored to contest offices they cannot give definition to. They do not have the slightest experience or knowledge of the offices they sought to occupy. But because of the financial benefits of such offices and the quest for power, they contest for such positions and unfortunately with the assistance of youth defeat the most qualified hands for the posts. Consequently we end up with local representatives who cannot depend their constituencies let alone sponsor motion for the benefit of their people. The situation is very unhealthy to our nation. There is too much rivalry and unacceptable competition that most at times leads to open confrontation and serious violence. We as youth should encourage healthy competition not violence. Every citizen has the right to vote and be voted for but not violently block others’ chance.

The government has most at times good intentions and they always proffer good policies which in most cases collapse in the course of their implementation process. In fact, it is not just a mere coincidence that youths are taking this line of action. The Hausas say “Mai abu dogarin kayansa” which means the youths who are the greater stake holders in the affairs of the nation should play a role in effecting positive changes in the society. Group actions like those of the Lagos area Boys, the Odua Peoples Congress, the Bakasi Boys ‘Yankalare of Gombe, Yan Sara-suka of Bauchi, Yan Daba of Kano and Super Youth of Borno are not the desired efforts. It is therefore necessary that youth movements should operate within the circumference of the law and government should monitor and guide their activities, so that they assist not only in eradicating poverty, but also in transforming the society for better results.

It is sad that Nigeria, which was a colonial territory just like, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Korea and even Japan is still ranked among the poor and underdeveloped nations of the world. “If we noted the fact, we have enough human and material resources, good agricultural facilities, oil and other mineral resources etc. One will really wonder why we are where we are”. Mallam A. U. Misau (2000).

Here, we should not blame our colonial masters because we were a colony like all those mentioned above and we are 46 years after independence. Our destiny is now in our hand, yet we cannot feed ourselves, we cannot cloth ourselves, we cannot manufacture items which we need and our health care and educational facilities are still wanting. Our internal security system does not guarantee safety for even the highly placed; a clear example is the assassination of the Attorney General of the Federal Chief Bola Ige Assassination of Henry Marshal, Safiya A. Rimi, Punsho Williams e.t.c. our legal, educational, economic and political systems, require surgical operations to make them work better and our known cultures of peaceful coexistence is now being diluted with crises, sometimes in the name of religion or irreligion. These as well as other vices and our disabilities as groups or individuals should be seen as role of the youths, who should mobilize themselves and help to propel positive changes. In doing that, we should appreciate the good records of our heroes past like the great Sardauna of Sokoto, the Tafawa Balewa, Zik and Awolowo among others who served the nation well and left positive legacies.

CONCLUSION

Let me not end this paper without saying more of what role the youths should play toward political security of the nation. Youths should not allow themselves to be used as tools in the hands of greedy politicians, as “Yan Daba/Banga” or political thugs. Those who found themselves in the position of power should always remember that they are in position of trust and one day, either here on earth or thereafter they will be called to give account for their actions.

People who say “if you cannot beat them, join them” are of course empty, hopeless, focusless, senseless and useless, they do not have their own taste or principles. They should be innovative and accountable in whatever positions they found themselves.

The youth should re-orient themselves on the code of conduct which should form the basis for their association. They should remain for the truth no matter who said it, for justice no matter who is for or against and importantly for humanity by supporting whoever and whatever will benefit the humanity as a whole. This and lots more can be achieved when the youth realizes that striving to acquire education is non-negotiable and non-compromising. Moreover, the youth should note and understand that “He, who must move the world forward, must first move himself’. More so, when people who should speak out over an issue fail to do so, then the tendency for evil continues non-abated.

Lastly the youth should organize and unite themselves irrespective of region, religion or ethnic inclination and be ready to give their today for the sake of our Nigeria tomorrow.

Thank you & God bless.