Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has warned political leaders against using Nigerian youths as instruments to fight their political battles, saying the practice threatens the country’s future.
Lamido gave the warning on Sunday in Dutse while speaking with journalists after a colloquium organised to mark his 78th birthday.
The former governor said youths were increasingly being used as political labourers, thugs and praise singers instead of being prepared for leadership and national development.
He said politicians should stop mobilising young people to rig elections, attack opponents, insult political rivals on social media or engage in violence.
According to Lamido, such practices could leave the country with a generation of young people inadequately prepared to assume leadership responsibilities in the future.
He urged political leaders to teach youths political ideology, sacrifice, service and responsible citizenship rather than encouraging them to fight over individual politicians.
Lamido recalled that leaders during the First and Second Republics mentored younger Nigerians and exposed them to political ideas and national service.
He said the future of Nigeria depended largely on how the younger generation was guided and prepared for leadership.
The colloquium, attended by thousands of supporters, was themed, “Guiding Youths on Political Ideology for Building a New Nigeria.”
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