IF there is anything that the Nigerian Movement for Positive Change (NMPC) cut out to achieve soonest, it’s the desire to make Nigerian political leaders be alive to their responsibilities of serving the masses, and not milking them in the course of serving them in a democratic settings.
This was the views of the President of the NMPC and the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Barrister
Niyi Aborisade, General Abdulahi Adekunle Martins(retd) and other speakers who were addressing the youthful participants of the fourth democracy series of the organisation, held at the e-library, Youth Development Centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state, at the weekend.
At the event themed: “Positive change in political leadership”, dignitaries on the occasion include, Mr
Rotimi Abayomi Matthew, a renown computer scientist, Mrs Mary Ajayi and Chief Ola Oyekanmi, Abayomi Migthy, Ayo Adedeji and Biodun Showunmi.
Aborisade and Martins, in their separate addresses intimate it on the electorates that the time has come for the citizens of Nigeria to know that they are elected to serve the people.
Aborisade said “You cannot sit down and watch helplessly as things are going wrong. NMPC was established to give voice to the voiceless. Our resolve can help the political leaders to find solution to Nigeria’s economic and social development to the advantage of all.
“It is time for Nigerian leaders to be alive to their responsibilities to Nigerians. Enough of use and
dump syndrome by politicians. At NMPC, we are working for a positive change from the grassroots that will initiate
objective voting responsibilities, full participation, political enlightenment and even empowerment.
“We have consistently been appealing to our people not at any point of their lives mortgage their future because of money or any other material thing under the disguise of stomach infrastructure. Your future is more than that. Anytime you sell your votes to moneybags, you mortgage your future. The moment they pay you, they owe you nothing whenever they assume office.
“So, our campaign is total appeal to you that your vote is your power, use it wisely. Do not be discouraged to get a PVC, vote and defend your votes.
“Invest your courage in Nigeria, participate in electoral process by making your voice heard in the choice of who leads you. This is the time,” Aborisade stated.
In his charge, General Martins lamented the attitude of politicians in deserting the electorates moments after winning elections, only to resurface few years to another election.
According to him, “there is high level of poverty in Nigeria which amounts to situation wherein our politicians are taking advantage of this situation against the unsuspecting masses. The masses have been bought over because they seems to have faint hope while attempting to survive of a desperate situation.”
He added that NMPC is seriously concerned on the fragile security situation in the country, calling on the leaders to improve the security of the country.
“High rate of poverty is the bane of Nigeria’s political structure. We have tried series of options as solutions but none seems working. In this regard, and with the fact that NMPC is really concerned with the challenges of improving security in Nigeria, government must be ready to ensure that it provide adequate welfare and economical package that can cushion the effect of poverty on the masses.
“The Federal Government should be ready to provide means of employment to the people of Nigeria. The level of poverty is too high for government to feign pretence. That is the solution.”
Corroborating General Martins’ claim, Mrs Mary Ajayi, a computer scientist disclosed that the rate of killings in the country must be checked, urging the Federal Government to salvage poverty growth in the country.
She said “the level of poverty in Nigeria is alarming that Nigerians don’t mind doing anything to survive. What can we do to salvage poverty in Nigeria? We have to come out and take part in electoral process and vote.”
Mrs Ajayi added that “I believe in Nigeria and that we can correct it. You have to believe in Nigeria, it makes one cry when one has the opportunity to see the level of hunger. This is a fact staring us in the face that we must strive to save the situation.”
“The rate of killings must be checked to restore hope in this country. There is political undertone in almost everything we do in Nigeria. We politicise every intention.”
Challenging Nigerian youth to rise to the occasion, Mrs Ajayi noted that “Your inaction is already failing your
generation by staying away from political participation. Our generation has failed you. I apologise on behalf of our generation. But you, the younger generation must rise not to fail the in-coming generation.”
