By Aderogba George
The Forum of National Youth Leaders of Political Parties in Nigeria (FNYLPPN) has called on Nigerian youths to reject political violence, ethnic hatred, religious intolerance, and electoral manipulation.
The call is contained in a communique issued at the End of a programme, National Youth Leaders Hangout with the Journalists, organised by the forum.
The communique was signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Eze Chukwu, on Wednesday in Abuja.
“The Forum calls on Nigerian youths to reject political violence, ethnic hatred, religious intolerance, and electoral manipulation.
“The Forum warns political elites to stop dividing the youths along regional, ethnic and religious lines for their selfish political interests calling on the youths to refuse to be deceived by some politicians.
“The man from Nnewi should see the man from Sokoto as his brother. Going forward, no Nigerian Youth should refer to the other as Nyamiri, Onye Ofe Mmanu, or aboki, we are just Nigerians and in one progressive Nigeria we stand,” he said.
The forum also urged all Presidential Candidates for the 2027 General Election and National Chairmen of political parties in Nigeria to publicly commit themselves to a clear youth inclusion agenda.
The forum also urged national chairmen of political parties to adopt and enforce deliberate policies for youth inclusion in party structures outside the single position of the youth leader to enable them participate in candidate selection,
“Political parties in Nigeria should reduce the price of their expression and nomination forms by 70 per cent for youths aged 35 years and below. seeking elective positions.
“Democracy must not be reserved only for the wealthy. Young Nigerians must be given a fair opportunity to participate in governance without financial intimidation.
“Political parties and other relevant stakeholders should address the issues of campaign financing, violence, and intimidation that disproportionately affect young aspirants through electoral reform.
“President Bola Tinubu should establish a National Youth skills acquisition and Empowerment Centres in the 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria and the FCT to enhance massive youth employment and empowerment,” the forum said.
The forum urged the Federal Government and institutions or agencies responsible for youth-related policies, to extend their operational youth age bracket from 18–35 years to 18–45 years.
This, it said, would accommodate millions of energetic and productive Nigerians in their late thirties and early forties who are still actively struggling for economic stability, leadership opportunities, and national relevance in the youth programmes of their government.
The forum condemned the growing insecurity across Nigeria, including killings, kidnappings, terrorism, cultism, drug abuse, and violent crimes affecting young Nigerians.
“As much as we recognise the efforts and sacrifices of our gallant officers, we are calling on the government to Strengthen intelligence gathering, and Improve community policing.
“We are also calling on the Federal government to address the root cause of insecurity like youth unemployment, lack of affordable education, and exclusion in governance of their country and not just the symptoms,” the forum said.
On education, the forum decried the level of public schools infrastructure decay and abandonment across the Local Government Areas of the 36 states of the Federation, including the FCT.
It demanded urgent intervention, adding that, a continuous neglect of the public schools across Nigeria will worsen the condition of the youths in the near future.
It also urged men of goodwill, patriots, public and private sector, stakeholders, the media, civil society, and development partners, to support capacity-building programmes for young political actors in Nigeria.
