A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola, and the Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television, Mr John Momoh, have said ethnic politics and unproductive youths are inhibiting development in Nigeria.
The two eminent Nigerians, who spoke during a convocation lecture at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Saturday, expressed the fears that poverty levels and crimes would continue to soar until leaders refrained from divisive tendencies and focus attentions on how best to harness the potential of the youths.
Momoh stated that the lack of unity and distrust among Nigerians led to the formation of socio-political groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Oodua Peoples Congress, among others in the country.
He said, “They are all waxing stronger. Each of these ethic groupings speaks for their people; none speaks for Nigeria. They only talk about their ethnic nationalities.
“Across the length and breadth of Nigeria, ethnic politics can’t be avoided; our politics is ethnic -oriented. The grounds upon which presidents, governors and others are elected, ministers appointed, contracts awarded and policies are made are on ethnicity.
“At every election, importance has been placed on where candidates come from, rather than the right candidates for election. The only way we can navigate out of this conundrum is by finding a platform where national interest can be promoted and this will start with harnessing the potentials of our youths.”
Similarly, Babalola lamented that the country was in a crisis of unemployment owing to the widespread belief that one could only be successful on the payroll of government.
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