Ndigbo Youth Parliament, a socio-cultural Youth parliament of Igbo speaking states, has on Wednesday felicitated with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he marks his one year in office. In the same vein, the group also felicitated with the Governors of Enugu State – Peter Mbah, Abia State – Alex Otti, and Ebonyi State – Francis Nwifuru as they mark their one year in office, respectively.
This was contained in the press statement made available to the media on Wednesday, by the Hon. Speaker of Ndigbo Youth Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rikki Nwajiofor. In his statement, Hon. Nwajiofor congratulated the President as he marks one year in office and applauded him for approving the 30 percent youth representation in all government appointments and for other Youth empowerment projects, while urging him to empower the Youth to go into Agriculture and food production.
Hon. Rikki Nwajiofor equally felicitated with the Governors of Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi States, respectively, as they mark their one year in office. He encouraged them to empower the Youth at the grassroots and to support the autonomy of the Local Governments in their various states. “Do not suffocate the Local Government structure, it is the closest tier of government to the masses at the grassroots”, he said. The complete press statement reads;
“On behalf of the entire Ndigbo Youth, under the auspices of Ndigbo Youth Parliament (NYP), I wish to felicitate with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as he marks his one year in office today.
“Your Excellency, I wish to use this medium to applaud and appreciate you for all the Youth-oriented projects and policies you have approved for execution since the inception of office as the President of our dear nation. Outstanding among them are: the approval to institutionalize a 30% Youth quota – representation of young people in all government appointments; approval to restructure and institutionalize the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund; approval to establish Nigerian Youth Development Bank, et cetera.
“I equally wish to appreciate you for appointing Young Nigerians into key positions in your government as Ministers, Chief Executive Officers, Managing Directors, Executive Secretaries, SSAPs, et cetera. This government has actually demonstrated that Nigerian Youth have the capacity to handle key positions. Thank you Mr. President.
“However, like Oliver Twist, we want some more Mr. President. There is a need to set up a Presidential Taskforce that will checkmate the execution of all your approvals for the Youth so as to ensure that all the approved Youth empowerment projects are equitably shared across the six geopolitical zones and ensure that the Youth at the grassroots receive a fair share of these empowerment projects. This will douse some tensions in the Youth Constituency, calm the nerves of Agitators, and exterminate the feeling of marginalization among some ethnic groups.
“I equally urge you to look more inwards and encourage local manufacturers, especially Young Entrepreneurs, who are into production and manufacturing of commodities and consumables. This will help in your efforts to stabilize our economy. If thousands of Youth are empowered to go into Agriculture and food production, across the six geopolitical zones, inflation will be drastically reduced.
“Your Excellency, may you succeed in your fight against insecurity in Nigeria. I pray for more wisdom, strength of mind and body, to enable you steer our beloved nation to a safe harbour and uplift it to a greater height. As we clamour for more Youth inclusivity and equitable appointments in your government, I say congratulations to you as you mark your 1st anniversary as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“To your Excellencies, Gov. Peter Mbah, Gov. Alex Otti and Gov. Francis Nwifuru, I wish to heartily felicitate with you today as you mark your one year in office as Governors in your respective states.
“I equally wish to use this medium to appreciate and applaud you for your landmark achievements and laudable projects executed within the space of one year as Governors. The beginning is laudable and I believe that the rest of the years, of your tenures in office, will be filled with epoch-making developmental projects and Youth empowerments. I urge you to empower more Youth in your states and ensure maximum Youth inclusivity in your respective governments.
“I wish to emphasize that you remember the Youth at the grassroots and support the autonomy of the Local Governments in your respective states. Do not suffocate the Local Government structure, it is the closest tier of government to the masses at the grassroots. The autonomy of the Local Governments will ensure more Youth inclusivity in governance.
“May God continue to guide your steps, endow you with more wisdom and strength to make your states giants, developmentally and otherwise. May you succeed in your fight against insecurity in the South East. Once again, congratulations to you all”.