Young Nigerians should rise above divisive ethnic and religious narratives about the country, and actively advocate for causes and issues that would deepen national unity, progress and development, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received a delegation from ONE Campaign, Nigeria Chapter, led by its Country Director, Ms. Serah Makka-Ugbabe.
The delegation comprised of members of the ONE Campaign, champions, and policy advocates representing the country’s six geopolitical zones who were selected to present the Vice President a Youth Declaration.
The Vice President stated that young people should focus their energies on championing causes that unite the country rather than divide it, while stating that ethnic and religious divisions and corruption are major issues that impede the development of any nation.
“There is no Muslim, Christian fighting this country, it is not true at all. That is not the issue. A lot of you who are here are Muslims and Christians, and young people want the same things, the same jobs. If you allow such false narratives, it would destroy and divide the country.
“Some people don’t care what they say or do, so long as they can get into power. And it is a very dangerous thing. And we have to preach against it openly.
Vice President Osinbajo noted that when it comes to stealing of resources, there are people of different religions and tribes involved.
“So, people don’t talk about ethnicity and religion when they are stealing resources, why? Why don’t they say that it is an attempt to Islamize Nigeria? The same way you have Nigerians cooperating in business across everything, across ethnicity or religion. But when it is convenient for some, the person pushes an ethnic agenda,” he said.
He further stated that the issues of ethnic and religious divisions and corruption must be addressed frontally by all Nigerians, including young Nigerians.
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Referring to the composition of the Federal Executive Council of the administration in the first term, the VP said, “look, our cabinet has 20 Christians, 18 Muslims, the President is a Muslim. How does he want to Islamize the country? How, when we are all sitting down there? They make those stories up, just to push an agenda.”
While emphasizing on the impact of the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programmes (SIPs) and the plan to take more Nigerians out of poverty and create jobs for young Nigerians through programmes like the N-Power job scheme, the Vice President stated that the SIPs would be expanded to further improve the welfare of youths and Nigerians generally, while the Federal Government will also focus on improving areas such as healthcare, education and agriculture.
In her remarks, ONE’s Nigeria Country Director, Serah Makka-Ugbabe, said, “ONE’s members and champions are honoured to present the Youth Declaration to the Vice President.” She also commended the spirit of openness and dialogue with which he has received the delegation.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
