A Nigerian Diplomat and former Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Martin Uhomoibhi has encouraged Youths to stay home and work towards nation-building.
Uhomoibhi made the call as the Guest Speaker during the first annual Convention of the Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria, (OSAN) themed; “Building Our Fraternity Within A Diversified Nation For Sustainance Peace In Nigeria,“ held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He said that young Nigerians need to love the country enough to stay and develop it.
“Nigeria is at a crossroad, economically and spiritually. People need to work for a better Nigeria and not just pray about it.
“Nigeria is an enigma. The first plan to destabilise the country has failed. The second has failed and the third will also fail. Nigeria has remained strong and will continue to remain strong in the face of adversity. The destiny of Nigeria is not in the hands of anyone. The problem of Nigeria is not God, it is Nigerians.“ Uhumoibi said.
On the 2023 general election, the Envoy said that the nation is not against the youths but that youths need to get involved in governance noting that historically, Nigeria has had very young office holders who did very well.
He, therefore, enjoined Nigerians to vote their conscience.
The Interim President of the Old Seminarians Association of Nigeria and Clerk of the Nigerian Senate, Mr Chinedu Akubueze, said that the association works towards national integration and cultural cohesion in the country.
He said that members of the Association use their intrinsic values and training to promote national harmony, good ethics and selfishness in public life.
“The theme of this first convention clearly encapsulates the motivating imperatives that birthed OSAN in the first instance. It is this fraternal love and brotherhood that has been lacking in the larger Nigerian society. The diversities of our ethnic heritages and religious inclinations have not been exploited as sources of strength; rather they are being manipulated as vehicles for division and undue rivalries. However, given the peculiarities of our seminary background, the OSAN rank and file is made up of God-fearing personalities poised to bear on the Nigerian society the traditions of excellence and unalloyed commitment to the common good of our people.“
He predicted that upcoming generations of OSAN leadership would be a visible and potent vehicle in the quest to reinvent the country, birthing a new nation where everyone would be guided and driven by common sense of purpose and patriotism devoid of tribal chauvinism and religious bigotry.
“This is my dream for the future, a dream I am highly convinced will be a manifest reality in the not-too-distant future. In the course of the presentation of this address, I had earlier mentioned how some eminent Nigerians who are also members of OSAN played critical roles in ensuring the realization of today’s glorious moment,“ he added.
The convention brought together members of the association from different fields of endeavour across the country.
PIAK
