By Abiola Olawale
Former two-term-civilian president and one time military Head of State, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has sent a strong warning to the federal government to immediately address the demands of the Nigerian youths.
The former president raised concerns that the unemployment of Nigerian youths can escalate into a big crisis if it is not immediately addressed.
Obasanjo, who spoke with the Financial Times, monitored by the New Diplomat, feared that Nigeria might be sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
He said: “Our youth are restive. And they are restive because they have no skill. They have no empowerment. They have no employment. We are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder. And my prayer is that we will do the right thing before it’s too late,” he warned.
The New Diplomat reports that Obasanjo’s comments come amid the ongoing #Endbadgovernance nationwide protests by some Nigerians, most especially youths, over lingering hunger and hardship in the country.
Thousands of youths across the country have embarked on protests since August 1, a development which has since escalated with reports and incidences of violence and lootings recorded in certain parts of the country.
Former president Obasanjo also pointed out that Nigeria’s economy would have been much better if it had not relied on just crude oil production.
He described the country’s reliance on crude oil as a “deadly mistake”.
“I believe we made a deadly mistake by putting all our eggs in one basket by relying on oil. We had a very important commodity, gas, but we were flaring it,” he added.
