The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, has launched a scathing attack on the political class, accusing politicians of double standards by exploiting the children of the poor as thugs during elections while keeping their own offspring safely out of harm’s way.
​Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the 15th Anglican Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers Conference (ACRLOC) in Abuja, yesterday, Most Rev. Ndukuba expressed deep concern over the recurring pattern of political violence, voter intimidation, and electoral malpractice engineered by political actors across the country.
​The cleric noted with dismay that wealthy politicians routinely fly their children overseas to top-tier universities and secure environments, only to return home and recruit economically disadvantaged youths often enticing them with small sums of money, illicit drugs, and weapons to disrupt elections and target political opponents.
​”It is a tragedy and a grave injustice that those who seek public office insulate their own families from conflict, yet weaponize the children of the poor,” Most Rev. Ndukuba stated. “They feed these vulnerable youths drugs and arm them to cause mayhem, effectively destroying their futures for temporary political gain.”
​Most Rev. Ndukuba urged Nigerian youths to resist being used as tools of destruction by political elites. He called on young citizens to recognize their intrinsic value and demand real opportunities, such as quality education, job creation, and skill acquisition rather than settling for dangerous, short-term inducements.
​Key points emphasized by the Primate included the Accountability for Political Leaders; Security agencies and electoral authorities must prosecute politicians who sponsor violence, regardless of their status or party affiliation.
He disclosed that the Federal and state governments must prioritize sustainable employment and educational programs to reduce youth vulnerability to political inducement and security forces must ensure a safe voting environment so that citizens can exercise their civic duties without fear of intimidation or harassment.
​Most Rev. Ndukuba concluded by calling on religious institutions and civil society organizations to intensify civic education and moral guidance ahead of upcoming electoral cycles, stressing that Nigeria cannot build a stable democracy on the foundation of youth exploitation.
