BY Jesupemi Are
John Onaiyekan, former Catholic archbishop of Abuja, says Nigerian leaders should prioritise investments in the youths to secure a better future for the country.
Onaiyekan spoke on Monday when he received a delegation from the Initiative for Fostering Unity in Diversity, Youths and Nation Building (IFFUIDYANB) at his residence in Abuja.
He expressed concerns over the indifferent attitude of political elites to current issues in the country, especially in matters affecting the younger generation.
Onaiyekan said those fomenting trouble in the country are always using the resilience of Nigerians to continue to deprive them of their rights.
“The best expression I have for what is happening in Nigeria is that we are dancing on the brink of chaos,” NAN quoted him as saying.
“Sometimes, we take two steps forward and four steps backwards. But, it is a game that we should not be counting on.
“There is so much that is being said about the resilience of Nigerians that we have unlimited capacity to absorb shocks. But this may not be the case forever.
“I have for more than 30 years been preaching all over the world that Nigeria is a special country where Muslims and Christians live together.
“But the belief by some elites that Nigerians had elastic capacity to absorb every form of difficulty is a dangerous gamble.”
Onaiyekan called for urgent measures by political leaders to chart a new path for youths to discourage the increasing rate of brain drain.
“The question is, how long shall we continue on this path? The youths are anxious to work,” he said.
“They are not happy to be unemployed, underemployed or mis-employed.
“When I see able-bodied young men and women hawking groundnut, I tell myself: this is wastage. They should be producing.”
The cardinal said that it is worrisome that people who should act to make a difference for the people, especially youths are keeping quiet and doing nothing.
He pleaded with well-meaning Nigerians to make investments in youths a priority to engender a better future for the country.
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