EndSARS: Defence, Agric Ministers Appeal to Youth on Dialogue

EndSARS: Defence, Agric Ministers Appeal to Youth on Dialogue

The Minister of Defence, Maj Gen Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd) and his Agriculture and Rural Development counterpart, Muhammad Sabo Nanono have appealed to the youths to always embrace dialogue as a tool for negotiation with government in pressing home their demands and to give peace a chance in all their undertakings.

The appeal was made by the ministers at an all inclusive stakeholders peace meeting organised in Kano at the instance of the Ministers, aimed at complimenting the efforts of the state government in achieving lasting peace in their domains as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The peace building stakeholders parley which came two days after President Muhammadu Buhari’s nationwide broadcast, and after a closed door session with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje at Government House, Kano, focused on the way forward to taking the youths off the streets for useful and peaceful engagements in nation building.

In a joint speech read by General Magashi(rtd) , they advised the youths to explore profitability of buying into the various government initiatives targeted at making them key drivers of the Nation’s Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), while taking ownership of the 75 billion National Youth Investment Fund meant for their upliftment to break away from the shackles and circles of poverty.

In the same vein, the ministers who charged the youth to be law abiding citizens as future leaders, urged them to seek better understanding of the democratic process for the ease of systematically mainstreaming them in the scheme of things.

The Defence Minister seized the opportunity of the platform to render the scorecard of the present administration in tackling the menace of banditry, kidnapping, cattle rustling, piracy and Boko haram insurgents as well as other forms of criminalities in parts of the country through the various Military operations to defend the Nation’s sovereignty which is threatened by the activities of the Non-state actors.

The Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Murtala Sule Garu thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the two members of the Federal Executive Council for their commitment to promoting peace in Kano state and admonished the youths to shun fake news capable of threatening National unity and cohesion..

In attendance at the stakeholders meeting were Heads of security agencies, representative ot the Emir of kano, Sarkin Dawakin Bello Abubakar, Chairman Kano State Peace Committee Ibrahim Umar, ethno-religious leaders, community leaders, opinion moulders, social influencers, students and the leadership of various youths groups as well as civil society organisations.

The critical stakeholders endorsed the meeting, and added their voices and commitment for a united , peaceful, prosperous Kano state in particular and Nigeria in general.

SIGNED
Mohammad Abdulkadri
Special Assistant Media and Publicity to the Honourable Minister of Defence