See young people as an asset - Amina Mohammed

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), Amina Mohammed, has advised Nigeria leaders to see young people as an asset, if they want peaceful retirement.

Amina Mohammed gave the advice during her visit to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat, in Abuja recently, as part of her tour of some West African States including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Chad, Niger and Nigeria.

A statement issued by the Head, Media and Public Affairs of NGF, Mr. Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, quoted Amina Mohammed as commending the governors for the mature manner with which they handled the #EndSARS demonstrations.

She, however, regretted that some ugly influences eventually contaminated the EndSARS protests.

The NGF Chairman and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, while welcoming the UN General Assembly scribe, stressed the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the country and governance at its sub-national level.

Fayemi said that although the virus hit Nigeria in March, its impacts had been ravaging with over 64,090 confirmed cases and 1,154 deaths.

The impacts according to him include the fall in oil prices, contracting tax base, loss of sources of livelihood, unemployment and youth restiveness (#EndSARS Protests).

Catholic Archbishop Condemns Freezing of #EndSARS Promoters’ Accounts, Asks President Buhari To Apply Caution In Dealing With Youths

The Archbishop disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu.

  

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev Alfred Adewale Martins, has faulted the freezing of accounts of #EndSARS promoters.

The Archbishop disclosed this in a statement by its Director of Social Communications, Rev. Fr. Anthony Godonu.

Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Nigeria.

The clergyman advised the Nigerian Government to be guided in handling prominent figures in the #EndSARS protests.

The statement reads, “We have been reading with great concern, reports of arrest, seizure of international passports and the freezing of bank accounts of some of the prominent figures in the #EndSARS protest.

“Everyone was delighted to hear the President say that the voices of the youth had been heard loud and clear. That left everyone with the impression that the government had seen the point in their protest and had taken a cue on how to meet their concerns. It came as a surprise to hear that the people who had helped the government to the new awakening are now being punished for the service they offered.

“Apart from being an abridgment of the rights of these youths to organize peaceful protests, a right that government officials have affirmed over and over since this whole matter started; it also amounts to a betrayal of their trust that the government will actually listen to them. Financial contributions to support a cause, that even government officials recognize as being a noble one, should certainly not be a crime.”

The Archbishop further admonished the Nigerian Government to be careful in the way it handles the matter so that wounds that are gradually being healed would not be reopened and the hope that trust would gradually be restored may not be lost again.

He assured Nigerians of continued prayers for the nation and enjoined all citizens to be law-abiding and peaceful while going about their daily activities.

SOURCE: SAHARA REPORTERS