Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd), has said the future of Nigeria lies in the hands of its youths.
Buratai said this when he received the National Progressives Hub, led by Hon Bukie Okangbe, in Nasarawa State.
The former Chief of Army Staff, who accepted to be the Grand Patron of the group, said the elders also have a role to guide the youths for a better future.
He said, “You are all Progressives. You are forward looking and want a better Nigeria. I thank you for the honour of being your Grand Patron. I believe the future of our country lies with the youths. The elders also have a role to guide the youths in order to guide the youths for a better future. As such I felt it an honour that I should accept this and appropriately replied. I will do that job for the benefit of the youth of the country and for the benefit of humanity. We must be our brothers keepers and make life better for ourselves and the future generations.
“National development requires a lot of things to be done. It does not take the efforts of a single man but collectively. I believe we would reach out to many influential people who would promote and project this idea of national progress and national development. We must bring everybody on board to ensure the country progresses.
“We would call for support from other stakeholders who are interested. This is a period of electioneering and I would urge you to maintain the campaign for a free and fair election. There should not be violence. We should also have a good outcome.
“The Hub is an organisation aimed at promoting a progressive agenda for a better Nigeria in line with the aspirations of the APC and I believe their initiative and support is needed to push the awareness not just among the party membership but also across the nation so that consciousness of progress in terms of human development can be achieved. I wholeheartedly accept this role,” he said.
National Coordinator of the group, Hon Bukie Okangbe, said the group was started three years ago to support the APC.
He said Lt Gen Buratai was chosen to be the Grand Patron of the group because of the ideals he represents.
“When we started the conversation to have a grand patron, we checked all over. We have great leaders that can be patron of this group, but a singular act that someone discussed in the group made us to send a request and pray the request should be granted. You did something a couple of years ago. Nigeria is a country that we do not appreciate. If Nigerians should appreciate the Chief of Army Staff, it should be ambassador Buratai. We should learn to appreciate so that the other people that are coming in front can put in their best. We should learn to appreciate out military, police and other security agencies.
“It is important to appreciate people. Your Excellency you moved your troops and decided to lead and you packed your luggage and moved into the North East and you lived there fighting for this country. That act alone made us to pray and write to you to ask if you can be our Grand Patron,” she said.
The National Leader, Simon Ternenge Kave, also said the National Progressives Hub believes in the unity and harmony of the country, which Lt Gen Buratai has worked his life time for.
He said it was was an association that stands to defend the progressive agenda of the APC.
He said, “We believe in the progressive agenda encapsulated under the leadership of the APC and we stand to defend the ideals promoted by the progressives under APC . We are here to declare that we believe in the unity of this country, and in the harmonious working together of this country, which Lt Gen Buratai has worked all his lifetime for. We appreciate all the sacrifices and discipline you have brought into the army in making sure Nigeria’s unity is preserved. It is one of the legacies we would give to the upcoming generation.
“We thank you for accepting to be our Grand Patron. You are coming with a lot of things we can learn from. The issue of professionalism, discipline and belief in the progress and unity of this country. We are ready to be guided. We are wiling to learn from you,” he said.
Also on the visit was the National Organizing Secretary, Haruna Abdulazeez Sultan; the National Youth Director, Tukura Kwayi; the North East Coordinator, Ukasha Rahama; and Financial Secretary, Hajarah Abdulkadir among others.