By Omamus Thomas
November 11, 2014 – Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola today continued to bare his minds on the need for Nigerians to give the younger generation an opportunity to rule Nigeria, but this time directed the call to political parties charging them not to give their Presidential ticket to the oldest but to give it to the youngest.
Fashola is making the statement for a second time two months. He initially indicated his passion for youths to take over affairs of the nation when he launched the Mainland IPP, when he said it is time for the old generation to give way for younger generation.
“In order to secure Nigeria, clearly we cannot send our weakest, we cannot send the oldest, we cannot send the infirm, it is the youngest but the strongest who must fight to secure a new Nigeria”, he said adding that Nigeria will profit from the energetic and can do spirit of the youths.
He called on youths to continue to work for a new Nigeria despite challenges facing the nation.
Fashola who spoke at a summit put together by youths in the All Progressive Congress (APC) charged them to strive for a society where leaders place premium on human life than any other natural resources.
He said the process to effect the desired change has started urging them to go out and obtained their permanent voters card (PVC) in order to vote for their desired candidate.
Engaging the participants in voice vote, Fashola outlined the components of what a new Nigeria should characterise.
“Each one of us will have a unique idea of the type of Nigeria we want, because we are different in many ways, but I think that because of our reality, all of us can agree on a frame work that allows our expectations to be met.
“A new Nigeria that we desire should be a safer and more secured Nigeria, where our children will not be kidnapped and we will not be bombed out of existence but can live our life to the fullest and we can enjoy electricity”, the governor said.
“A new Nigeria should be a better governed Nigeria, we expect our government to account for our resources and the billions of dollars that go missing will stop, and public funds are no longer lost to boyfriends and girlfriends”, he added.
He said the funds generated from the resources of the country would be properly channeled into developmental projects such as road construction, schools, hospitals and other amenities that will improve the standard of living of the people.
He said leaders in the new Nigeria should be able to put in place better health care to ensure safety of mother and child during delivery.
He charged them not to give up in the face of the challenges that come with the process of effecting the desired change adding that each nation is confronted with its own peculiar challenges.
The governor who took time to share his personal life experience, however said the change desired can only come when Nigerians gear up to take the lead rather than seek the golden fleece outside the shores of the country.
“Slowly we seem to be gradually becoming a nation of refugee, such that if this place does n’t work, we check out, but I am telling you that most of my colleagues, who checked out when we graduated from university, have checked back. But you know what; they have lost time to put their feet on the ground”.
