ZION B-BC NEWSLETTER. [ A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church, Kpeyegyi, Abuja Nigeria. ] { VOL. 3. NO 80. 22-02-15.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32). AGONY OF THE NIGERIAN YOUTH! [1999-2015]. Youths inanygivencommunity,societyor nationshould always be accordedthefundamental basicrights to serve as the God-given grain reserve that would always replenish and enrich human existence and population according to His purposive plan! *There is no gainsaying that youths are boisterous, vibrant, inquisitive, energetic, adventurous, impetuous and usually inspired to explore new grounds and overcome challenges! *God’s first attempt of the higher creation produced a full-grown Adam, who was ready to start a family! [Genesis.2:7]. It was not a mistake because that was His first step in the master-plan of PRO-CREATION! *In Genesis 4:1-2, we have this account: “And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. “And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” *This Biblical story narrated the advent of youths into the world system according to God’s purposive WILL; a process that has resulted in today’s universal population of over 7 Billion human beings of male and female species! *In appreciation of God’s miracle of pro-creation, the psalmist says: “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD; and the fruit of the womb is his reward. “As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. “Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”[Psalm.127:3-5]. *This psalm is very instructive to the analysis of the existing relationship between Nigeria as a nation and her Youths of all categories from cradle to adulthood in view of the salient facts that consecutive political and military administrations always behaved as if they were created as the adult Adam, who never went through childhood! *There is deliberate gross neglect of the youths because Nigeria does not: (1). Appreciate them as “God’s Heritage”; (2) Does not recognize them as his, “Reward of the fruit of the womb”; (3). Never valued them as, “Arrows in the hands of a mighty man”; (4). Have failed to acknowledge the population and strength of her youths and as such cannot be HAPPY; (5). Are full of SHAME because the “UNTAUGHT YOUTHS who should defend our territorial borders from the enemies are the very MONSTERS, ravaging and devastating all of the Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory[FCT], in the last FIVE years with bombs and various weapons of mass destruction which have resulted in about one million loss of lives! *Nigeria cannot “speak to his enemies in the gate”, because of failure of fulfilling the Biblical injunction which states as follows: “Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he would not depart from it.”[Proverbs. 22:6]. The countries leaders – especially since the new attempt at a democratic dispensation – had displayed the evil spirit of self-centredness of forcefully and deviously keeping the nation’s TILL to themselves by ignoring the most needful –which was the moral and secular education of the youths to secure a brilliant future for them as LEADERS in the making! The promise of free primary and secondary education that was printed in the nation’s consecutive Constitutions, and the promises of 2 million l jobs annually for the youths have turned out to be a RUSE after all! *Over two weeks ago, thousands of the compulsory National Youth Service Corps [NYSC], BATCH “A” 2013/2014 corps members, were disengaged without the usual send-off passing-out parades nor certificates of completion of their service year programme, on the stage-managed excuse of insecurity that shrouded the now postponed 2015 General Elections of which some of them were already trained as ad-hoc staff! *Security experts were of the opinion that cancellation of the parade was justified but insisted that programme disengagement certificates should have been distributed to the youth corps members on their DINNER NIGHT CEREMONY, [3 February, 2015], adding that the worst kind of insecurity was in directing them to go home and return at a determined date to collect the said NYSC Service Year Certificates! *They argued that aside the accident risks to be faced in the mass movement of these youths from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory [FCT], as they criss-cross the country, they were also exposed to other social-related crimes of kidnapping, robbery, rape, ritual killing; etc.! They also posited that, it tantamount to ineptitude on the part of the NYSC Directorate to hold the poor youths to ransom for a voluntary elections duty which registration of participation by interested parties had been concluded on-line! *We need to thank and glorify God for journey’s mercies on behalf of these vulnerable youths who have now been recalled to collect the said certificates, (just within a period of 14days interval of their dispersal) and who MUST travelled again at their peril, to all States of primary assignments including the FCT, to collect those certificates which hold the key to their UNGUARANTEED FUTURE on Thursday, 19 February, 2015! *We also condemn this lackadaisical attitude of Government which cared less whether her youth lived or perished! *The Youths could not afford to shun the certificates for the following reasons: (1). Without the NYSC Service Year Certificate, no university, polytechnic or college of education graduate would secure employment either in the private or public sectors in Nigeria! (2). The certificate is usually demanded for verification in most public transactions that involve filling of application forms at Ministries, Departments and Agencies [MDAs]; including supply of goods and services or contract awards across board! *The implication of this usurpation of the Youths fundamental human rights of association under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution is that, whether, they had spent NINE to TEN years-including the compulsory but unpopular one year NYSC programme- maintained by inept successive governments, they were most likely to end up JOBLESS! *These youths have always been used as pawn in the hands of consecutive ruling authorities since the military incursion into politics! *Because of their population of about 65-70 percent of 170 million Nigerians, and their dependency on the elders and leaders in the society, they were easily manipulated and engaged as thugs for election rigging and for other clandestine purposes by politicians who usually use discard and dump such unwary youths at their whim and caprice! *In a recent alarm from Edo State, we were told that some discredited politicians were infiltrating the Ad Hoc Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, [INEC], specifically Youth corps members, for collaboration to rig the postponed elections in that State! *Was it not sufficient for these youths and by extension their parents to have endured this aberration against Constitutional provisions in respect fundamental rights of association under the Military for almost 30 years? And why would any serious democratic government inherit such retrogressive policy in this modern digital world? *We of this editorial board have always advocated for the abrogation of that Military Decree that established the NYSC PROGRAMME, because it has outlived its so-called usefulness of unity in diversity and have suggested the introduction of an ONLINE POST -GRADUATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME, through which there could be mutual contractual benefits between graduates of various disciplines and governments through which they would plough back to the nation from their reservoir of knowledge those ingredients for greater socio-economic development and the modern art in nation-building; instead of the unnecessary and unwarranted coercion into another frustrating and agonizing year of idleness and joblessness! *We believe that the passions and yearnings of the educated could still be guided, counselled and re-moulded, but the violent and criminal tendencies of semi and stark illiterate youths which stares all of us in the face, MUST be of greatest concern to all right-thinking citizens of our great nation! *The Boko Haram terrorists who fall into the category of illiteracy were raised and bred by these same leaders still clinging to political power and would prefer that everyone else perished except themselves and members of their families! * Youth should naturally assume positions of FUTURE LEADERS OR LEADERS OF TOMORROW as the saying goes; but rational thinkers have classified that notion as FARCE! *The old Nigerian politicians have no plans to abdicate their “exalted positions of affluence and decadence” for as long as the breath of life subsists; but from all indications, their time is up because the youths have become wiser! *Below are excerpts of a publication of 22 October 2014, which sums up a general thought of today’s Nigerian youth: “Either our teachers lied to us about being the LEADERS OF TOMORROW, or tomorrow is yet to come. Who is fooling who? “What a shameful country; “1985 – IBB was Military President of Nigeria and out teachers told us that Buhari, was also a former Head of State in 1984, and our teacher also called us, “Leaders of tomorrow”. It is about 30 years now, IBB and Buhari are still contesting for the presidency. “In 1983, Bamanga Tukur was the Governor of the defunct Gongola State(now Adamawa and Taraba), and 31years later, he is today the Chairman of the ruling party PDP! “ Dr. Bello Haliru was a Commissioner in the old Sokoto State(now, Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara) and over 30 years after, he is Minister of Defence. “ Major General David Mark (Rtd), was the Military Governor of Niger State in 1984, and now a second-term Senate President,(having been in the Senate since 1999), and about to seek a third term as Senate President! “Governor Murtala Nyako, was the Governor of Niger State in 1976, and about 38 years later; he is recently impeached as Governor of Adamawa State after almost eight years as Governor, and he has gone to court to seek redress! “Ogbonnaya Onu, was Governor of Abia State in 1992 and 22 years later, he is today the National Chairman of ANPP just collapsed into APC! “Jonah Jang, was the Governor of Benue State in 1985 and 29 years later, he is today second term Governor of Plateau State. “Martins Elechi, the Ebonyi State second term Governor is over 80 years – it is only in Nigeria that this is possible! “We have scores of his age mates like, Uche Chukwumerije and co., dominating the Senate, Federal House of Representatives and State Assemblies of the nation whereas today’s Youth have no hope for the future! “The so-called leaders have succeeded in looting the “recovered loots” of their predecessors; our economy’s being battered with strikes in the Health, Labour, Judiciary, Education sectors and today – students are paying heavily for poor educational services! “IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE NIGERIAN DREAM, LET’S TELL THEM ENOUGH’S ENOUGH!” *We must feel compassion for the Nigerian Youths, though strategically placed by God to inherit leadership position are being diabolically schemed out of the political equation and simultaneously from his divine heritage! *There is no gainsaying that the development and security of a nation rests squarely on the boisterous character, innovation and orientation of its youths. No nation can afford to neglect or despise the latent creative abilities/talents and innate labour power embedded in her youths and hope to make meaningful economic strides or developments - especially in this 21 Century digital world! *It is in the dreams, aspirations and hopes of our Youth, if well-guided, counselled and directed that Nigeria as a nation can chart a new course of economic success and not in the stunted ideas and unfaithfulness of the present set of the unrighteous people in government! “When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.” [Prov.29:16]. Amen. *IF YOU ARE NIGERIAN YOUTH THIS IS YOUR GRAND OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE OUT THIS WICKED GENERATION OF USURPERS! *A WORD IS SUFFICIENT FOR THE WISE! If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations. Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access,to this newsletter, log on to: facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurch or http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.com, https://www.google.com/+zionfaithbiblebelievingchurch . I am, Yours sincerely,Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor.08130669886, 08098194390.g-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com .]