Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said that Nigeria cannot afford another civil war, advising the youths to distance themselves from fanning embers of violence and war in the country.
He said as Nigeria does not want a repeat of the 1967 civil war, which tore the fabrics of the country.
The governor made the call on Tuesday during the closing ceremony of the orientation course organized for members of the 2022 Batch B (Stream 2) National Youth Service Corps members posted to Kaduna State.
Represented by the state’s Acting Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, El-Rufai said the civil war was a needless savagery that Nigeria cannot afford to repeat.
“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,” he said.
The governor further explained that the corps members have the capacity to defend what is good for the country and what will build a united Nigeria.
He said they should not fail to do what is right for Nigeria, stressing that the major objective of establishing the NYSC is to promote unity and enhance development.
El-rufai said the national youth service is a reflection of the hope placed on young graduates as bearers of a greater Nigeria.
He said as representatives of the youths who are the majority in Nigeria, the corps members must shun corruption during the 2023 polls and be responsible citizens who would be said to have risen to the occasion when they were most needed.
According to him, the youths constitute 71 per cent of the 12 million fresh applicants for Permanent Voter Card in the just concluded Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
He said he expects more youth participation in the 2023 general elections, saying they will be engaged as presiding officers during the polls.
Director of NYSC, Brigadier General M.K Fadah, whose address was read by the State Coordinator, Mr Abel Odoba Oche, urged the corp members to build on skills they acquired during the orientation course, adding that this would avail them the chance of becoming self-reliant.
