A former Governor of Cross River, Mr Donald Duke, has urged the political class to make concerted efforts to restore the hope and pride of youths in the country.
Duke made this advocacy at an interview with newsmen in Abuja on the sidelines of the 2024 Teens Career Conference titled “The Power of Music.”
The conference was organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)–The Everlasting Arm Parish, Garki.
Duke said that majority of Nigerian youths were not looking within the country for a better future as they had turned their attention to other climes.
He stressed the need to eliminate quacks who saw politics as a means of livelihood rather than a means of service.
According to him, if politics is seen as a means of service, politicians will become role models and can create hope.
“Hope is an eternal, effervescent power to create hope in the young ones that their tomorrow will be better than today, just as their today ought to have been better than yesterday.
“Politics could be the most elevating vocation; but a lot of quacks are involved in it right now; so, they have brought it down to the lowest level.
“When politics is right, it elevates everything; it elevates medicine; it elevates your livelihood; when we complain about the country not being good, it is the politician.
“So if you have the right politicians, we will have the right country; so, it is the most nobles of vocations, but unfortunately full of quacks,” he said.
Duke attributed the high inflation rate in the country to cost of energy and tasked the political class on addressing energy crisis by converting gas flaring to support the economy.
On his part, the Pastor in Charge of the Parish, Eva Azodoh, emphasised the need for decent role models for young Nigerians.
He said that the purpose of the conference was to link teenagers and young people in general with honourable people they could have as role models.
“We wanted to have people who have, by hard work and integrity, achieved what they have achieved in life so that people can look at them and know that by hard work and honest hard work and integrity, you can succeed.
“That is the purpose; you can see the former governor of Cross River.
“We received one of our best clergies in the RCCG, Kenneth Ozioma, and look at that 15 year old boy, Damilade Adepegba, who you can see that he has talent; but he has worked hard to achieve what he has and that is the purpose of this conference.
“You do not have to be a deviant to become a role model; run around half naked or dress in all sorts of manner neither do you have to become a deviant, because you have succeeded,” he said.
More so, the Co-coordinator of the conference, Mrs Elizbeth Ekpenyong, said that confidence was designed to expand the imagination of young people and to get them motivated.
According to her, it is the eighth year of the conference.
Some of teenagers who participated in the conference told to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) they were inspired and urged young Nigerians to take advantage of the power of music.
Miss Nicole Obinna, a 17-year old, said that she had been inspired listening to the special guests at the conference.
