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There’s Need to Recruit 50m Youths into Military, Police – Tinubu
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Amidst an array of tributes before and during his 69th birthday colloquium, former Lagos State Governor and National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has cautioned the Federal Government against inflicting stiffer economic policies on Nigerians, stating that citizens were already going through devastating pressure occasioned by the administration’s economic management.
Tinubu said: “What Nigerians need is economic stimulus and not austerity measures capable of driving Nigerians deeper into poverty.”
Asiwaju, who lamented the country’s unemployment rate, which stood at 33 per cent, said the country is competing with bandits to recruit unemployed youths, while he proposed immediate recruitment of 50 million youth to fill the acute shortage in the military and police.
The former Governor of Lagos State said: “Nigeria is under-policed. We are competing with armed robbers and bandits to recruit from the youths who are unemployed. Nigeria’s unemployment rate recently hit a new record high at 33.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2020.
“With the high unemployment rate, some have feared that many youths who are out of jobs might turn to social vices and ills including banditry in northern parts of the country. It is time for the Buhari administration to address the situation so as to improve the standard of living of the citizens. Something must be urgently done to salvage the country.
“Let’s do a lot of things at home to create jobs. We find very creative minds on social media. Let us salute our youths.
Yes, they (youths) are angry but we will pacify them. We need to pacify our youths otherwise the consequences could be dangerous. What we did in Lagos could be replicated across the country.”
Tinubu, however, cautioned against constant youth agitation, which he claimed might be a vital ground for dangerous revolution.
He disclosed that the shift of his annual colloquium to Kano was deliberately considered to strengthen Nigeria’s unity and promote peaceful co-existence across the country regardless of divergent views.
Making reference to the marriage of the daughter of Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, to the son of the late ex-Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, which took place in Kano in 2018, he asked: “Why are we in Kano? It is to demonstrate unity to Nigerians at this critical time. It is because there is a Fulani man, a herder who gave his daughter to a farmer, Yoruba man.”
Tinubu, who appreciated his host, Governor Ganduje, said by hosting the event in the northwest state, he and the governor have demonstrated that a firm Nigeria is possible, going forward.
President Buhari said occasional tensions in the nation’s history characterised by diversity of ethnicity, culture, language and religion, notwithstanding, Nigerians are better off and stronger together, especially at a period the corporate existence of the country is being challenged by ethnic diversity and agitation for self-determination.
The president, who commended the celebrant for always being an advocate of unity and cohesion in Nigeria, said: “This has been a constant factor in his outstanding political career, from the time he served in the short-lived senate of the Third Republic to his involvement in the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola, to his much-acclaimed period of service as Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007.
“The ranks of Asiwaju’s political collaborators, whether as party members, comrades in the struggle, members of his cabinet, or his advisers, assistants and political associates, have always reflected a pan-Nigeria attitude. I believe all of us here can also confirm that the same outlook of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other like-minded Nigerians eventually made possible the coalition of four political parties into what we now see as our great party, the All Progressives Congress,’’ he said.
President Buhari noted that the objectives of the colloquium, which seeks to provide answers to national issues, further reflect the personal principles of Asiwaju Tinubu in promoting the unity and welfare of the country.
“I can also relate personally to the ideals of one Nigeria. As a military officer, I have served with great comrades from all the nooks and crannies of our country. I have seen over and over again that their goodness or failings did not depend on ethnicity or religion.
“More importantly, I fought for the unity of Nigeria during the civil war of 1967 to 1970, and I saw first-hand the unspeakable horrors of war, not just on fellow soldiers on both sides, but on the civilians: innocent children, women and elderly citizens that they left behind. As we all know, the peace-building, recovery and reconstruction that followed could also not have succeeded under an atmosphere of inter-ethnic animosity.”
This message of unity was also corroborated by the Vice President, who said the country needs “a growing new tribe of Nigerians that are willing to make the sacrifices and self-constraints crucial to building a strong society, and are prepared to stick together, fight for equity and justice.
“This would be my first colloquium where I will not be physically present at the venue. Several of us did the best we could from Abuja to get to Kano this morning, but bad weather certainly gave us so much difficulty that we were unable to fly there,” he disclosed.
According to the VP, despite the various socio-economic challenges worsened by the fallouts of a global pandemic, he urged Nigerians to avoid stoking tendencies, viewpoints and opinions that threaten the federation and its unity.
Participants also used the occasion to advocate for a renewed national integration and genuine rebirth to purge Nigeria from a looming ethnic and religious fragmentation.
Keynote speaker, Prof. Dani Rodrik, who contended that infusion of social conflict is not necessarily destined to ravage any society, however suggested inter-ethnic equity, spatial integration and encompassing politics as solution to peace.
The professor of international political economy from Harvard University noted that inequality and lack of economic inclusion among diverse ethnic groups remain major cause of instability and acrimony in Nigeria. He tasked political leaders to ensure wide spread of resources to check growing disaffection in the country.
The don added that if anything, democracy is better in handling diversity than authoritarian regime. “Democracy provides more economic stability. Africa provides two important examples of this claim. Mauritius and Botswana.
Mauritius was wrecked in the first time by ethnic crisis but good leadership addressed the situation.
“Democratic form of governance is better than authoritarian government. It was proven during the Covid-19 lockdown. Democracy is not only about election but protecting the rights of the people, including the minority group.”
In his comment, Acting National Chairman of APC, Governor Mai Mala-Buni, said the colloquium is with a difference because it demonstrated the sense of unity in Nigeria. According to him, “We are demonstrating a great leader and a bridge builder. I also salute Ganduje for demonstrating the true sense of unity by hosting the event.
Gbajabiamila said many successful politicians today in the country owe their gratitude to God and of course to the vessel God used to bring them up, which is Tinubu. “I do not know of any man in Nigeria either living or dead that dreams, talks and thinks politics 24 hours everyday like Asiwaju. I don’t know anybody with such capacity.”
The Guardian
Headlines
Tinubu Warns Politicians, Supporters Against Violence, Irresponsible Conduct As Campaigns Gather Momentum
President Bola Tinubu has warned politicians and their supporters against violence and other irresponsible conduct, as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu said his administration would not tolerate violence during political campaigns, urging presidential hopefuls, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, as well as other political leaders, to promote peaceful political engagement.
The President issued the warning through a statement by the State House on Friday, November 13, 2026, following reports of violence at political events in different parts of the country.
He condemned all forms of political violence, insisting that campaigns should focus on issues and ideas capable of improving the welfare of Nigerians and promoting national development.
Tinubu also committed to ensuring peaceful, free and fair elections in 2027, urging politicians and their supporters across party lines to conduct themselves responsibly.
He said belonging to different political parties or pursuing different political ambitions should not make Nigerians enemies.
“As Nigerians, we are members of the same household living in different rooms. Therefore, our politics must elevate human conditions and focus on national progress and development,” he said.
The President reiterated his directive to security agencies to be firm against individuals involved in activities capable of disrupting public order.
He stressed that all political parties and candidates must be allowed to campaign freely across the country without intimidation or threats to their safety.
“We shall not tolerate any irresponsible conduct by politicians and their supporters,” Tinubu warned.
He authorised security agencies to confront thuggery and other anti-social and anti-democratic activities with full force, adding that his administration remained committed to an orderly and peaceful electoral process.
Headlines
Court Orders INEC to Publish Adebutu’s Name as Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate Within 24 Hours
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the name of Ladi Adebutu as the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Ogun State election within 24 hours.Judge Peter Lifu gave the order on Friday in a judgement following a suit filed by Mr Adebutu and the PDP to challenge INEC’s exclusion of his name from the final list of candidates for the upcoming 6 February 2027 governorship election.
He consequently declared the exclusion “unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.”
In resolving the issues raised by parties, Mr Lifu held that the power to nominate candidates for “elections rested solely with political parties.” He ruled that “Neither INEC nor any other authority could take over that responsibility.”
The judge faulted the commission for waiting more than four months before “belatedly publishing the final list on 10 October” without informing the plaintiffs of any intention to exclude their candidate.
He questioned INEC’s decision to raise the issue after the primary had been conducted and monitored, when it could have raised any concerns in its monitoring report.
Mr Lifu warned that allowing INEC to exercise such powers would amount to a “dangerous show of power”.
He said such authority could allow the commission to disqualify candidates only days before an election, adding that INEC did not possess absolute powers.
The judge also held that the membership register tendered before the court contained Mr Adebutu’s name against serial number 1536.
He said the evidence established that Mr Adebutu was a member of the PDP and that it was the political party, not INEC, that had the authority to determine its membership.
The judge questioned why INEC considered it its responsibility to determine who belonged to a political party, holding that the commission exceeded its powers by omitting Mr Adebutu’s name.
The dispute
The dispute followed the exclusion of Mr Adebutu and his running mate from the final list of candidates published by INEC for the 6 February 2027 Ogun State governorship election.
INEC published the final list on 10 October, featuring 13 governorship candidates but excluding the PDP from the race.
INEC said its decision followed the PDP’s alleged failure to comply with the membership register requirements under the Electoral Act 2026.
Section 77(5)–(7) of the Act requires political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC within the stipulated period. The provisions also empower the commission to scrutinise the registers.
In September, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the provisions in a case involving the Zenith Labour Party and INEC. The ruling affirmed the requirement for political parties to submit their membership registers before conducting valid primaries.
Following the exclusion, the PDP and Mr Adebutu approached the Federal High Court in Abuja in October, asking it to compel INEC to recognise him as the party’s governorship candidate.
The plaintiffs challenged the commission’s decision, arguing that it violated their right to fair hearing and breached provisions of the Electoral Act. They asked the court to set aside the decision and direct INEC to publish Mr Adebutu’s name as the party’s governorship candidate within 24 hours of its order.
INEC opposed the suit, maintaining that Mr Adebutu’s name was missing from the PDP membership register submitted to the commission. It therefore urged the court to dismiss the suit for being incompetent.
Source: Premium Times
Former Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss Pochettino would have an enormous task on his hands to revive a club that has never recovered from the departure of Alex Ferguson 13 years ago.
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