President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday promised to get more Nigerian youths involved in governance if he succeeds in being re-elected for a second term.
The President, who gave this assurance at an interactive session with a cross section of Nigerian youths in Lagos, pledged he would be driving ‘Made in Nigeria cars’ very soon and would have them as part of his convoy as a way of demonstrating his confidence in the growth of the automobile industry in Nigeria under his administration.
The forum tagged “Meet The President”, which was staged at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, was put together by a group called the Participate, Vote for Your Choice Candidate (PVC).
Jonathan, who was responding to some of the questions thrown at him, explained that his administration had involved many young Nigerians at all levels of governance and would involve more in his second tenure.
His words, “We have had different programmes for the Nigerian youths including job creation, employment and scholarships.
“We have been working with a number of young people from grass root to the national level and will get more young people involved,” he said.
While expressing appreciation for the opportunity to hear directly from young Nigerians, the President said, “I intend to make this kind of interaction a part of our administration by going round the six geo-political zones for town hall meetings with the youth.
“If the President will get this kind of fora regularly it will help in understanding the youth and their desires” he said.
Explaining how time constraint has not permitted such interactive sessions with him to hold in the past, Jonathan said, “Governance is a serious business.I know many will wonder why this is holding now that elections are near. It is because when elections are getting close the president spends time going round.
“After the President is inaugurated, much of the time is spent working on issues that will benefit the country.
“But we will find time in our busy schedule to make this more regular in coming year,” he added.
While insisting that his recent visits to Baga, Mubi and other troubled North Eastern states were not informed by the imminent elections, the President explained that, “As the Commander In Chief, I rely on intelligence reports to make such moves”.
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