Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, has said that Nigeria is about to collapse and can only be rescued by youths.
He said it was necessary for Nigerian youths to join politics in order to save the country from impending danger.
He spoke in Kaduna State on Monday after he was awarded the ‘Icon of Youth and Student Development’ by the leadership of Northern Youths and Students Forum.
Matawalle, who was represented at the event by a House of Representatives member representing Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Kabir Amadu Mai Palace, said: “I am a youth like you and it’s high time we participate more in politics.
“We have no reason to hide. This country is about to collapse and the only way forward is for us, the youths, to rescue this country.
“There is a need for our youth to involve themselves more in politics. If we look at the population of this country, the youths are the majority. So, it is high time for more youths to come out and participate in governance so they can move the country forward.
“In Nigerian politics, once you call on youth to participate, the first question he will ask you is where will I get the money. But, they should put it in mind that they need to join a political party and be active from where they move to occupy offices.
“Like always say, our challenge as youths sometimes is ourselves – youths discouraging youths. If our youths can come together, with our number as voters, we can lead the country from the presidency down to the councillorship.
“If our youths are actively involved in politics, they will become party executives and as such, they will be able to determine the cost of sale of forms at very affordable rates”.
He continued, “As you are aware, since his assumption on May 29, 2019, Zamfara State has made a tremendous investment in education and youth empowerment to safeguard and guarantee the future of our next generation of leaders of which you represent.
“Notably, among numerous other modest achievements in the said areas include a budgetary allocation of 19 per cent to the education sector, remodelling of our educational institutions, improve welfare and wellbeing for teachers, provision of adequate teaching aid.
“Other areas of intervention are the award of foreign scholarships to hundreds of our students in Sudan, Cyprus and India to study Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering, Architecture etc.”
Secretary-General, Northern Youths and Students Forum, Mr. Aliyu Ahmad, in his address earlier said, “Today, the leadership of this forum has taken a reach in honouring a leader par-excellence, a highly intellectual personality, a mentor, a role model who has been contributing tremendously towards the development of northern Nigeria’s youths and students.
“Our award is a kind of appreciation and encouragement for the services you have rendered towards the development of Northern Nigeria. You are an outstanding governor of Northern Nigeria.”