…Oba Akiolu advocates special status for Lagos State, empowerment of youths to address the unrest
By Seun Adams
Following the recent impact which trailed the ENDSARS protest which was later hijacked by hoodlums, the Federal Government has called on youths to take advantage of the present digital revolution to channel their energy to positive causes through the acquisition of new skills and knowledge sharing so as to nourish human capacity for the socio-economic development of the country.
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the call in Lagos during a Stakeholders engagement on internal security and conflict resolution in Nigeria.
He acknowledged that the youths are the pride and glory of any people, adding that they must understand that youths are unique demography.
“Today’s youth are a peculiar breed. They are a new generation of social media and the power of ideas and intellect. They appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than previous generations, the deployment of their intelligence is a different matter; which we must all seek to re-channel through positive modelling and gainful Employment.” He said.
According to him, the digital revolution has increased young people’s capacity to bring about positive social change as ICT gives them the tools to learn new skills, to share knowledge and to nourish human capacity.
As information flows seamlessly around the planet, young people can more effectively act as a catalyst for change – locally and globally, he added.
The acknowledged that they must therefore be commended for the courage to start a movement that shook the foundation of this nation in a way that has never been done before.
However, much as they are a great asset, they also can be a great risk to themselves and to the society if their energy is not positively channelled.
He said the time has come to rouse the consciousness of their leading lights to confront the charlatans among them. These charlatans he said, are the elements capable of dragging down society because according to him, their activities are destructive to society as well as to themselves.
The Minister stated that the stakeholders’ engagement was convened to proffer lasting solution to security challenges across the state and the country at large, in order to enhance socio-economic development, especially in the wake of the ENDSARS protest, promote unity among the diverse ethnic population of the State as well as share knowledge and ideas on matters that could create crisis in the polity and proffer proactive solution, among others.
He added that security challenges are of global concern, noting that despite the present challenges, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration was working towards attaining the most secure state for all Nigerians and would need all hands to be on deck to ensure its realization.
Aregbesola stated further that armed conflicts and terrorism have devastated large parts of the globe, with 17 countries going through one form of armed conflict or the other, leaving in its wake thousands of dead bodies, ruined landscapes and a large army of internally displaced persons, and therefore called on Nigerians, particularly the youths not to take the relative peace in the country for granted.
He called on all the stakeholders in charge of internal security and those present to bare their minds on how they can make Lagos and the entire South West region that haven of habitation, commerce, economic development and the show-piece of civilization – the best that the first man can offer humanity.
Earlier, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged the support of the good people of Lagos State and by extension, the entire South West region, to President Muhammadu Buhari’s led-Administration in its determination to ensuring peace and security in the country so as to bring about socio-economic development of the nation.
In a remark, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alh. Muhammad Dingyadi, reiterated the improvement in the welfare package of Police personnel evident in the increase in their salaries, he further assured that government has put all necessary steps in place, to protect lives and property of all Nigerians and foreigners alike.
In his remarks, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu urged the federal government to grant special status to the state to enable it to empower the youths with jobs.
This he said will address youth restiveness