Lamido warns leaders against using youths for political battles

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A former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has cautioned political leaders across the country against turning Nigerian youths into political labourers, describing the trend as dangerous to democracy and a threat to the future of the country if not urgently checked.

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Lamido gave the warning while fielding questions from journalists at his Dutse residence on Sunday, shortly after a colloquium organised to celebrate his 78th birthday.

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The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain and two-term governor of Jigawa State said the trend was dangerous to the future of the country.

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“We are abusing our youths. We turn them into political labourers, thugs and praise singers instead of grooming them for leadership,” Lamido said.

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He warned that if the practice continued, Nigeria would suffer moral decadence and leadership collapse.

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“When you use the youth only to rig elections, to insult opponents on social media and to fight your political battles, you are destroying their future,” he cautioned.

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Lamido lamented that some leaders in positions of authority and those vying for political offices were misleading youths in ways contrary to good morals.

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“The youth should be taught ideology, sacrifice and service, not how to abuse elders and chase money during elections,” he said.

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He said the future of Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development depended largely on how youths were mentored.

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“If we fail to guide them properly today, we are mortgaging the future of this country politically and in all endeavours,” he warned.

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Lamido recalled the guidance given to young leaders since the First Republic, which he said helped shape national development.

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“In the First and Second Republics, leaders mentored us. Aminu Kano, Shehu Shagari and others taught us ideology. Today, what are we teaching the youth?” he asked.

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Earlier, during the colloquium held the same day in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, thousands of supporters of the former governor, the majority of whom were youths, gathered to celebrate him.

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The colloquium was themed, “Guiding Youths on Political Ideology for Building a New Nigeria.”

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The chairman of the occasion and former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, urged youths to embrace ideological politics.

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“Politics without ideology is empty. You must unite, be dedicated and make sacrifices for the development of this country,” Makarfi said.

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Makarfi urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians.

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A special lecture was also delivered by Dr Auwal Anwar on the theme of the colloquium.

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Anwar said Nigerian youths must be reoriented towards ideological politics to build a new Nigeria.

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“Without ideological conviction, our politics will continue to be about stomach infrastructure,” he stated.

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The lecture was followed by suggestions and remarks from discussants, including university dons.

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Professor Kamilu Fagge of Bayero University, Kano, said youths must be empowered with knowledge rather than weapons.

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“Youths are the engine of any nation. If you misdirect them, you kill the nation,” Fagge said.

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Dr Akilu Indabawa, also of BUK, said political education should be introduced to rescue youths from manipulation.

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Professor Nu’uman Habib, in his remarks, warned that drug abuse and political thuggery among youths were connected to bad leadership.

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Also speaking, renowned Islamic cleric and ADC Kano governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Malam Ibrahim Khalil, called for moral rebirth.

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“The youth need spiritual and moral guidance. Politics without morality will not take us anywhere,” Khalil said.

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