The first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the minister of defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.) have warned Nigerian youths against allowing politicians and criminal elements to manipulate them into violence as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They spoke separately at the National Christian Youth Security Summit and Thanksgiving in Abuja and urged young Nigerians to reject political violence, drug abuse, extremism, criminality and other activities capable of jeopardising their future and the security of the country.
The summit, organised by the National Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), held from September 3 to 5 at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, under the theme, “Empowered for Leadership, Service and Nation Building.”
Tinubu, represented by the executive secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rt. Rev. Stephen Tunde Adegbite, warned youths against becoming “sacrificial lambs” for politicians during the forthcoming election season.
She urged them to channel their energies to prayers, peaceful democratic participation and nation building rather than allowing themselves to be recruited for political violence.
“We are meeting at a very crucial time in the history of our great nation, the period when we are moving towards another election, and it should be a period that none of you will be used as a sacrificial lamb.
“We don’t want any politician to use you and waste your life. All we want from you is to pray for Nigeria. All we want from you is to continue to pray for Mr President and all political appointees, all our governors, all our senators, all our House of Assembly members and all our House of Representatives members, so that Nigeria will be a better place,” she said.
General Christopher Musa warned that the vulnerability of young Nigerians to manipulation, criminal recruitment, drug abuse and violent extremism constituted a major national security concern.
Musa, represented by his special adviser on security and intelligence, Musa Likita, said youth empowerment should be treated as a national security strategy.
He argued that an educated, skilled and economically empowered young person was less vulnerable to manipulation by criminal and extremist groups.
“Leadership without empowerment is fragile. Empowerment without responsibility can be dangerous, and service without patriotism cannot produce sustainable nation building,” he said.
The minister said national security was not the sole responsibility of the armed forces, police and other security agencies, but a collective responsibility involving every citizen.
