Nigerian youths have been charged to commit to peaceful co-existance and nation building as the 2027 general election approaches.
The call comes as Muslim and Christian stakeholders sign a peace accord to ensure peace before, during and after the 2027 general election.
The Nigerian Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), who made the call, cautioned the youths to avoid being used by “politicians and criminal elements to be for violence as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general election.”
General Musa who was represented by his Special Adviser on security and intelligence, Dr. Musa Likita urged young Nigerians to reject political violence, drug abuse, extremism, criminality and other activities capable of jeopardising their future and the security of the country.
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He made the statement at a Christian Youth Security Summit and Thanksgiving, organised by the National Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
The summit brought together youths across Nigeria, under the theme, “Empowered for Leadership, Service and Nation Building.”
Also speaking, the Wife of Nigeria’s President, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, cautioned the youths not to be used as tools for political violence and insecurity.
The Nigerian First Lady who was represented by the executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, NCPC, Dr. Stephen Adegbite, warned youths against becoming “sacrificial lambs” for politicians during the forthcoming election season.
Mrs. Tinubu urged the youths to “channel their energy towards prayer, peaceful democratic participation and nation building rather than allowing themselves to be recruited for political violence.”
The First Lady also called for greater cooperation between Christian and Muslim youths, saying “religious and ethnic differences must not be exploited to create division and violence.”
According to her, both “Christianity and Islam are religions of peace and their adherents must work together to secure the country.”
“As Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, we must work together. We are brothers, we are sisters, and we must see ourselves as one. It is when you have peace that you can talk of progress,” she said.
She highlighted some interventions by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including mobility support across the six geopolitical zones and educational assistance for Nigerians whose parents could not afford university education.
She said “more interventions would be implemented,” while urging youths to “remain supportive of efforts to build a better country”.
Mrs Tinubu assured the youths that their concerns would continue to receive attention from government, stressing that the administration remained committed to ensuring that their voices were heard.
The National Chairman YOWICA, Ademola Daniel Arowolo and his Muslim counterpart, the National President, National Council of Muslim Youth Organisation, Sani Sulaimon while signing the peace accord cautioned youths against electoral violence.
Also the Secretary General of the Northern Christian Religious Leaders Assembly, NOCRELA Rev. Simon Dolly commended the peace accord and charged the youth to stay away from violence.
