Some youths, under the aegis of the Nigerian Baptist Convention Youth Conference have expressed reservations on the increased spate of insecurity, the persecution of Christians and the harsh socio-economic policies in the land.
They said the Federal Government must make urgent move to curtail the ugly trend in a bid to forestall unforseen circumstances.
During a match against violence within the premises of Molete Baptist Church, Ibadan on Friday, the youth spoke against the killing of Christians in parts of the north, crime and criminality as well as skyrocketing VAT, electricity bills and other essential utilities in Nigeria.
The Taraba Baptist Youth Conference displayed placards with inscriptions such as, ‘Stop Nigeria blood bath,’ while the North-West Baptist Youth Conference carried placard reading, ‘Enough of the bloodshed.’ Other inscriptions on the banners from other units read, ‘Stop the killing,’ ‘We need peace in our land,’ ‘Arise oh Lord,’ and ‘Say no more killing of innocent Nigerians.’
Pastor Enunuaye Onajite, NBCYC president, in a speech titled, ‘In a time like this,’ taken from the book of Esther 4:14, delivered ahead of the 48th annual national youth conference of the church, noted that there was threat to human existence in the world with the worse scenario playing out in the country.
Onajite said, “The world is faced with myriad of challenges that call for alertness and doggedness. It was similar challenges that alerted Esther of her divine assignment. Had she failed, the world would have been in jeopardy. We are called as youths to understand the times, redeem the times because the days are evil.”
Dwelling on the state of the nation, in view of the comatose economy made worse by corruption, insecurity made worse by the global effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, he expressed worries that the citizens had not seen an effective, workable policy by the government to address the myriad of economic challenges.
“The macro economic impact of the pandemic will likely significant, even if the country manages to contain the spread of the virus. Nigeria has never been more unsafe like in recent time. Nigerians are being killed daily.
The dreaded and violent Book Haram terrorists are killing Nigerians in the North-East, armed Fulani herdsmen are killing innocent farmers in the North-Central. Bandits are killing Nigerians in the North-West.
Kidnapping, armed robbery and associated crimes have taken over the entire south. Protest in the South-East over perceived marginalisation by the government have led to clashes with security forces. We demand for overhang of the security architectural design of the nation. We demand for a security council that would reflects the plurality of the nation, a true Nigerian security council and not Northern Nigerian Security Council.
Government must urgently address issues related to access to land, jobs and socioeconomic development, which are sometimes fueled by politicians.
Also, modern equipment to fight both symmetric and asymmetric war should be purchased and deployed in the hotspots while welfare of the security agents must be prioritised.
Onajite, who said issues of the Company and Allied Matters Acts and the ‘not too young to rule’ bill, should be effective, stressed, “In times like this, Nigerians youths must stand up to challenge the status quo.”
