By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
A Southern Kaduna Senatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Engr. (Dr.) Michael Ayuba Auta, has lamented that Nigerians are presently faced with security challenges, negligence of education sector, rise in unemployment, leading to youth agitation, un-balanced economy with weak currency and high inflation, among others.
According to him, time has come for Nigerians to rise up above religion, tribe, section in order to ensure credible leaders that would lift the country from its present predicaments to its promised land
Speaking at an “inter-faith sensitization of youth and women inclusion in governance” in Kaduna, he opined, “In 2015, the people of this great nation vehemently craved for change from a government thought to be too corrupt and wasteful, even though a few politicians of the PDP carried out their functions as lawmakers and members of the Executive. The opposition, APC, after preaching the change mantra, has not been the change the electorates and, the people desired for. This change has been damaged by security challenges, negligence of education sector, rise in unemployment, leading to youth agitation, un-balanced economy with weak currency and high inflation, among others.”
He noted that it is no longer news that Kaduna state and Nigeria, at large, needs redeeming from its present predicaments, misery and pain and thanked Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jema’artu Nasir Islam (JNI) for coming together and aligning to kick away a combined twenty three years of appalling governance by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that has been damaged by untold hardship.
He stated that time has come for Nigerians to embrace a paradigm shift, a shift towards a party with the ideology to properly reposition the state and Country, embolden and duly engrave the name Nigeria on the map of the world.
He thanked the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN) and that of the Ja’amatu Nasir Islam (JNI) for coming together to exchange ideas on the way forward for Kaduna state and Nigeria, saying that at this time and age, people are sharply divided across religious and ethnic lines as the show of togetherness is medicine to sore eyes.
The Senatorial candidate called on Nigerians, particularly the youths and women to all propagate the message of moving away from the already tested and failed leadership, to a government that is liberal, all inclusive and economy-oriented, with the vision to move Nigeria forward from it’s present state of anarchy and stand out great, in the comity of Nations.
According to him, “It is no longer news that our dear State – Kaduna and Nigeria, at large, needs redeeming from its present predicaments, misery and pain and I must appreciate CAN and JNI for coming together and aligning to kick away a combined twenty three years of appalling governance by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) that has been damaged by untold hardship and let us embrace a paradigm shift, a shift towards a party with the ideology to properly reposition the State and Country, embolden and duly engrave the name Nigeria on the map of the world.
“After coming into power in 1999, the leadership of the PDP tried to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Southern Kaduna but in-spite of their efforts with pockets of achievement here and there, there is still a gaping gulf between what governance should be and what is obtainable.
“In 2015, the people of this great nation vehemently craved for change from a government thought to be too corrupt and wasteful, even though a few politicians of the PDP carried out their functions as lawmakers and members of the Executive. The opposition, APC, after preaching the change mantra, however, has not been the change the electorates and, the people desired for. This change has been damaged by security challenges, negligence of education sector, rise in unemployment, leading to youth agitation, un-balanced economy with weak currency and high inflation, among others.
“However, credit and credence must be giving to a few outstanding leaders who happen to be members of the ruling APC. One of such dynamic leaders is the present governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmed Elrufai. though, his infrastructural development is lopsided, with alot of companies like the textiles, ginger factory in Kachia, Kafanchan flour-mill and other factories rendered comatose.
“The call for youths and women inclusion in governance has not been this loud, forceful and more awareness been created from a group that has recently been neglected. In the past, we had the youth occupying political positions and managing them, without so much sweat. For example, Elrufai became an adviser at the presidency at 32, Senator Nenadi Usman, was a commissioner at 26, the late Isaáh Balat, Ali Madaki, also in their twenties, Sen. Makarfi, Ramallan Yero and others, became commissioners in their twenties and thirties respectively. Today, we have retired men and women in their 60s and 70s, competing with the Youths for political position, which is totally unacceptable.
“Therefore, the, “Labour Party”, stands out when it comes to bringing the women and youths, who constitutes about 60% of the voting strength, into political discuss and limelight, thereby, giving them a place at the leadership stage, to help proffer solutions to the major problems and challenges be-deviling our society, region, State and Country.
“Finally, it is imperative to appeal to everyone present here today, and those who are listening to this remarks or, who eventually read the text to continue to pray for our victory to come, so that we can all propagate the message of moving, away from the already tested and failed leadership, to a government that is liberal, all inclusive and economy-oriented, that is the Labour Party, with the vision to move Nigeria forward from it’s present state of anarchy and stand out great, in the comity of nations.”
