Returned governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has noted that the current level of unemployment has turned many energetic youths into “political trekkers,” pledging to invest more energies in job creation.
The governor made this assertion in his inaugural speech shortly after he took the oaths of office and allegiance alongside his deputy, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri on Friday.
While taking the oaths administered by the state Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah Shettima said, “We are seriously worried by the throng of unemployed youths in Borno State. An idle and desperate mind is often vulnerable to external manoeuvre.”
Clarifying that he did not mean to denigrate some Nigerian youths who invented new ways of celebration by embarking on long distance trekking, the Borno helmsman insisted that lack of employment provided the time and environment for embarking on such exercise.
His words, “I really do not think any youth that is gainfully employed could have embarked on trekking for weeks. For me, I have taken note of two messages from these trekkers. The first message is a strong and bold reminder that there are no jobs for the youths in Nigeria.
“The second, which I consider more seriously, is that Nigerian youths have the courage and strength to do what many leaders never thought they could do. If youths can trek from one state to another, it means they have potential for good use while they have strength to revolt like Lions in the event they are pushed to the wall.
“We must create jobs for Nigerian youths,” he added.
While observing that this year’s Democracy Day celebration was a moment of hope for the people of his state and Nigerians following the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, Shettima noted that enormous possibilities also lay ahead of the people.
The governor, who lamented that Borno residents had suffered untold hardship as a result of Boko Haram menace in the state, accused the out-gone administration of President Goodluck Jonathan of not doing much to save the situation.
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