Details have emerged from the meeting between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and six members of the House of Representatives, led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Obasanjo warned the Federal Government to listen to the concerns of Nigerian youths, whose nationwide protests have been sparked by demands for better governance, economic opportunities, and an end to corruption.
The former President cautioned that failure to address the youths’ demands could lead to dire consequences, given their frustration, desperation, anger, and unemployment.
“You are what you are today because you’re a Nigerian; I’m what I am also because I’m a Nigerian. So why should they be Nigerians and be languishing in poverty?
“They make demands and we’re not listening to them. Many of them are frustrated, desperate, angry and unemployed. What do we expect?,” he queried.
Obasanjo also emphasized the need for a change in mentality among those in governance, stressing that Nigeria’s progress depends on its ability to address the youths’ demands.
The meeting, which took place on Friday, also discussed a bill seeking a single six-year term for the presidency and rotation between the North and the South.
On the issue of a single six-year term, Obasanjo said, “For me, the issue is for us to get it right. Whether we have one term of six years or two terms of four years; where it’ll work is our mentality.
“We have to decarbonise our brain. If you give a person one single term of six years, he will do the same harm he could have done in two terms of four years.
“If you have a system you can trust; you have an INEC you can trust, then it will not matter the number of years.”
Meanwhile, Mr Ugochinyere said that the country should move toward adopting a single six-year term for president.
He also called for a rotational mechanism for governance between the North and the South.
Other lawmakers who accompanied Ugochinyere on the visit were Hon. Abdulmalik Danga, Hon. Midala Malami, Hon. Matthew Nwogu, Hon. Peter Aniekwe, and Hon. Kama Nkemkama.
