Protest: Nigerian youths are demanding what rightfully belongs to them – Obasanjo
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has said Nigerian youths under the #EndBadGovernance protest are demanding what should be their rights.
Obasanjo said this in Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun state, on Friday, when he hosted some members of the National Assembly.
Since August 1, Nigerian youths have been protesting against high cost of living, hardship, unemployment, insecurity and demanded that the government reduce the cost of governance in the country.
The former president said the youths deserve to be listened to .
“You are what you are today because you’re a Nigerian”, Obasanjo said.
“I am what I am also because I am Nigerian. So why should they be Nigerians and be languishing in poverty?
“Like I have warned earlier, we should know that we are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder if we fail to begin to do the right thing.
“For instance, what the youth are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to, or why should they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?
“They make demands, and we are not listening to them. Many of them are frustrated, desperate, angry, and unemployed.
“What do we expect? They deserve to be given listening ears”.
The former military head of state also spoke on the issue of fixing term limits for public office holders. He said it is not the most important thing but a change of mentality in office holders.
“The issue is not whether Nigeria should adopt a single six-year term or maintain the status quo,” Obasanjo said.
If the mentality of the people in governance does not change, then Nigeria will remain where it is.
“For me, the issue is for us to get it right. Whether we have one term of six years or two terms of four years, where it’ll work is our mentality.”
The house of representatives members co-sponsored bills seeking a single six-year term for the president and governors, power rotation between the northern and southern parts of the country, and a single day for presidential, governorship, national assembly, and state assembly elections.
