Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has urged Nigerian youths to shun violence, saying Nigeria cannot afford a repeat of the 1967 civil war which claimed about two million lives.
He also urged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who would be participating in the 2023 general elections to avoid being used as conduit pipes to rig the polls.
El-Rufai spoke on Tuesday during the closing ceremony of the orientation course, organized for members of 2022 Batch B (Stream 2) NYSC corps members posted to the state.
The Kaduna Governor, who was represented at the event by the state Acting Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, said the civil war was a needless savagery that the country could not afford to repeat.
He said, “The youth must remember that the NYSC came into being after the civil war that tore every fabric of the Nigerian state. The war was a needless savagery that we cannot afford to repeat.
“Nigerian youths must therefore distance themselves from fanning the embers of violence and war in Nigeria. As a country, we must avoid a repeat of that dark part of our history. And Nigerian youths must refuse to be ready tools for war mongers.
“My dear valuable corps members, I believe you have the capacity to defend what is good for our dear country and what shall build a united Nigeria and you shall not fail to do what is right for your dear country. After all, the major objective of establishing the NYSC is to promote Nigeria’s unity and enhance development.
“The national youth service is a reflection of the hope that we have placed on our young graduates as touch bearers of a greater Nigeria. You must prove that this is not a misplaced hope. We expect you to be innovative, industrious and consistently demonstrate acts of tolerance, open mindedness and perseverance in all that you do.”
Speaking on the role of the corps members during elections, el-Rufai said as representatives of the youths, the corps members must shun corruption during the election and be responsible.
The Director of NYSC, Brigadier General, MK Fadah, whose address was read by the State Coordinator, Mr Abel Odoba Oche, also urged the corp members to build on skills acquired during the orientation course, adding that it would avail them the chance of being entrepreneurs and self-reliant.
