Union leader advises youth against electoral violence

Tayo oladipupo |

The President of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) branch of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Ifeanyi Mazeli has told Nigerian youths to abstain from any act of indiscipline that can lead violence in the forthcoming general elections in the country.

He gave the advice shortly after he was handed the Exemplary Leadership Award by Youth Assembly of Nigeria (YAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

Mazeli enjoined the youths to strive towards job creation instead of seeking white collar jobs which according to him may not be so available in the country.

According to him, lack of mentorship for the younger generation has led to major setbacks for them to take the right decisions that will prepare them for their future endeavours, even as he urged them to embrace patience, endurance, obedience and perseverance.

“I want to encourage us that one of the reasons the youths are not doing very well in our society is that sometimes, peer group pushed us into negative things that we know we are not set for.

“Patience is a virtue but the truth is that we lack patience.

“We have a challenge in this country and that challenge is that the Nigerian youths are using most of their time to things that are not worthwhile.

“Elections are coming and the youths are employed to carry guns and ballot boxes and so things contrary to the law of the land .Meanwhile, those people employing the youths to do such things have their children at home.”

He called on the youths to desist from any form of political thuggery and hooliganism, which he described as a tool of distracting vision of the younger generation.

While responding, Deputy Speaker of the group, Goriola Mosobalaje called on the youths to come out and vote for their preferred candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

He said YAN championed the Not Too Young to Run which in turn has become a household name in Nigerian politics.

He noted that the NPA branch President could be described as a burning candle that has no hiding place.