210
By Hon Emma Asie
Elderly statesman and former Commissioner for Information in Anambra state , Chief Sir Joe Martins Uzodike (Dike-Udo, Aka na eme Eze na Awka Etiti) has encouraged youths to sustain their current support for Labour Party Presidential candidate candidate Mr Peter Obi as they are on the right track with him.
Chief Sir Joe Martins Uzodike gave the encouragement at an interactive phone-in program on Alpha Radio Nnobi 106.5FM titled POLITICAL HEAT hosted by Emmanuel Asiegbunam (Mr E on the Mic).
Exploring the topic "Is 2023 really the turn of the younger generation?" The elderly statesman affirmed that with determination and drive, the younger generation can turn the tide of the nation and make a statement with the 2023 general election.
The former Commissioner for Information who was also a one-time Senior Adviser to then Governor Jim Nwobodo of the old Anambra state, traced the challenges youths are facing in politics today to the non creation of enabling and conducive environments by successive governments over the years. He lamented that spiraling unemployment was driving youths to violence, crime and other vices with a resultant negative impact on the nation. Going down memory lane, he recalled "During my time in the 70s and early 80s, employers were coming to schools to harvest intelligent students and give them jobs even before they graduated from school. Many of my peers were already with good jobs even before leaving school. However, this is no longer the case today as even first class graduates with multiple degrees, find it almost impossible to get any meaningful employment after school." He therefore called on the youths to take back their country and vote in candidates that understand the youths and can provide gainful employment and improved standard of living for all Nigerians. He warned Nigerians in his own words against *"voting for old men like me who have lived out their lives and are not in tune with current realities. Youths need someone that understands them, reasons like them, identifies with them and can bring out the best in them by creating the most convenient environment for their talents and creativity to thrive". He reiterated his earlier stand that "...2023 is the turn of the younger generation and old politicians that recycle themselves in power, should be permanently retired".
Responding to questions from callers on what should be the priority of any incoming government, Sir Joe Martins AKA Buzuzu (as he was fondly called in his schools days as a prolific footballer in Christ The King College (CKC) Onitsha) stressed that sports and youths development should be the number one priority. He recalled that he and some of his peers enjoyed scholarship as a result of their exploits in sports as students and that it positively shaped their mentality to national development. He urged the current government and any incoming government at all levels to concentrate on and invest more on sports as a tool for positively engaging the youths. He expressed hope that one day, the Nigerian Premier league will become as competitive and attractive as the English Premier league. The former secretary of Ranger FC in the late 70s, revealed that he still plays active football even at 69 years old!
Sir Joe Martins Uzodike, who was a one time class teacher of former governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state and later served as Obiano's Campaign Director General in 2013 and eventually Special Adviser on Political Affairs, clarified that he had no issues with the former governor despite being "sacked" from his position unceremoniously as Political Adviser. He said they still maintain cordial and friendly relationship.
He however maintained that his current allegiance lies with Mr Peter Obi under whom he served as a commissioner for information in 2010. He gave his full support as an elderly statesman to Peter Obi s presidency and prayed that Nigerians especially the youths will massively vote in Peter Obi so that Nigeria can get back on the right track of national development and unity.
He expressed delight that the Nigerian Youths are actively keying into Peter Obi s presidency and therefore urged them not to relent but to sustain the tempo by collecting their PVCs and coming out on election day to peacefully vote for Peter Obi and Dr Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed of the Labour Party. He further called on community leaders to ensure that the PVCs are not hoarded as was being alleged over the social media but that every registered voters in all communities in Igboland, collect their PVCs as it is their ticket to a better future.
You can watch the live streaming of the program interview here
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088686260445&mibextid=ZbWKwLl
No comments:
Post a Comment