From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Nigeria’s ace musician, Dr. Bongos Ikwue, has told the Federal Government that the recent #EndBadGovernance protest was a departure from the docility of youths of yesteryears.
He said the protest should awaken the government to address the yearnings of the masses and pleaded that the government should be liberal in accepting both the protesters and their actions as part of the checks and balances of democracy.
In a statement, Dr. Ikwue disclosed plans to execute a programme with local, state and federal governments to engage the youths meaningfully and effectively to achieve a dream country.
The accomplished singer said present youths were described as apt predictions of a country’s future, who should be appropriately counselled, reasonably provided for and properly guided and monitored.
He said it was obvious that there is hardship in the country which can be traced to increase in fuel pump price since most activities in the country are hinged on the use of premium motor spirit (PMS). He empathised with Nigerians and the government, who have been grappling with hunger, insecurity, violent attacks at home and on the farms, inefficient healthcare system and inadequacy of all sorts.
“Nigerian leaders should be aware that there is a paradigm shift; modern day Nigerians have evolved to putting their leaders to task, a departure from docility.”
According to him, bad governance is not only limited to governments but also our homes, communities, organisations, religious organisations, and associations.
Dr. Ikwue appealed to the youths to sheathe their swords and cultivate the culture of tasking their brains to think out pragmatic solutions to challenges facing Nigerians, individually and collectively.
He advised against taking the route of violence or giving room to agents of destruction whenever the need arises for them to relate with their leaders.
The veteran singer chided youths that believe in taking illegal routes to acquire wealth and admonished them to exploit the numerous opportunities and resources which are available.
“Part of the solutions suggested to mitigate the hardship in the country are reducing the demand for PMS by embracing CNG-powered vehicles, electric vehicles, building of recharge/filling stations for these vehicles; affordable mass transit scheme (tricycles inclusive); support to charity shops where food stuff would be sold at lower prices; enhanced nationwide hi-tech security architecture, particularly of ungoverned areas; meaningful youth empowerment programmes; purposeful leadership training; and concerted visible efforts at stamping out corruption within the government and citizens,” he said.