Nigerian youth asked to mourn on Independence Day

By Allwell Okpi

September 25, 2009 12:35AM

An organisation called Youth Against Cybercrimes and Fraud in Nigeria (YACCIN), on Thursday, announced that it will hold a candlelight procession on October 1 to express their displeasure on the state of the nation. The procession is to commence at the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat by 4.00pm and end at the Lagos State Government House, Alausa. All participating youth are to be dressed in black.

The President of YACCIN, Mbasekei Obono, said October 1 is not a time for celebration but a time for Nigerians to have a sober reflection and make decisions on how to move the country forward.

“We are not happy about the situation of things in Nigeria,” he said. “Young people are at home they are not in school. At 49 years we have not solved the power and energy problem, at 49 we have not solved the problem of education; at 49 there 40 million youth who are unemployed; what do we have to celebrate?”

Mr. Obono also said the procession will occur simultaneously in all the states of the federation and will be a means of mobilising Nigerian youth to take responsibility for change in the country.

“We want to bury our past. We want to bury our indolence as youth and our lackadaisical attitude toward national development and stand up to cause a revolutionary change in our country starting from October 1,” he said.

Mr. Obono also faulted the new Electoral Reforms Act, saying it did not make mention of the youth except for electoral violence and also called for the resignation or impeachment of President Umaru Yar’Adua for his inability to resolve issues with the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

Also at the press briefing were Wale Olawepo, president of the youth wing of the Trade Union Congress TUC and Akangbe Jamiu, president of the Lagos chapter of Future Nigeria.

Mr. Olawepo listed the demands of the TUC to include the passing of the Freedom of Information bill, stopping of privatisation and deregulation, and revamping refineries and the railway system.

Mr. Jamiu, who also expressed displeasure at the government, said the solution the Niger Delta crisis is not amnesty.

“If you give the present militant money to drop their guns, don’t forget that younger militants will come up tomorrow to make their own demand,” he said.

According to Mr. Obono, YACCIN is clamouring for change in the country so that Nigerian youth will have better opportunities so as not get involved in robbery, militancy and cybercrime.

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Reader Comments (10)

Posted by Tosin ADEWUMI on Sep 25 2009

This is surely a good way to go... The global impact of the cyber crimes being committed by our youth daily cannot be denied, especially the damage it is doing to the integrity and image of every Nigerian. This period is sure a time for a deeper reflection on how we can move forward to rebuild every wall that has been ruined. I am happy for this move and in full support of the great idea being pioneered by th Youth Against Cybercrimes and Fraud in Nigeria (YACCIN).

Posted by ANDREW OBEYA on Sep 25 2009

It's very sad that at 49, a Country such as Nigeria is still clamouring for basic social amenities. The Youths have to take charge of their destinies. It's a very good move that is coming at a time where the Country is approaching a total collapse. Nice initiatiative by the organizers.

Posted by ANDREW OBEYA. on Sep 25 2009

WHAT A NICE ACTION COMING FROM A YOUTH WHO HAS THE INTEREST OF OUR DEAR COUNTRY AT HEART. WE CAN NOT WAIT FOR TOTAL COLLAPSE BEFORE REDEAMING THE IMAGE OF OUR DEAR COUNTRY, NIGERIA. I ENJOIN ECERYONE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS OF RESTORING THE IMAGE OF OUR COUNTRY AND DEAR PEOPLE. AT 49, A COUNTRY SUCH AS OURS SHOULDN'T BE GRAPPLING WITH ISSUES OF SOCIAL AMENITIES AGAIN. WE SHOULD RATHER BE CONSOLIDATING ON THE STRUCTURES ON GROUND BUT WHERE ARE THEY?

Posted by Mine Oniovosa on Sep 28 2009

Change will come, change has come, we will live in change. We just need to be strong voices, and to take responsibility for our country. We all point fingers to others, not realizing that we are the leaders.

Posted by Daniel Runsewe on Sep 28 2009

Great job, lets unite for a change in this country for once.

Posted by Tosin OGUNMOLA on Sep 28 2009

A good one there. . . Let me point out that YACCIN is the face of the organizers in Lagos but the Candlelight procession is being coordinated by a coalition of youth organizations that emanated from the Northern Youth Dialogue on Electoral Reform and Southern Youth Dialogue on Electoral Reform that held earlier in the year in Jos and Lagos respectively where the youth organizations in attendance formed themselves into what is now called YOUTH COALITION ON ELECTORAL REFORM (YCER) - or call it wiser, as Nigerian Youths are now wiser. The candlelight procession shall be the first in a series of action plans we have put in place to ensure our dearly beloved country is salvaged from the hands of the Internal Colonial Masters. And the good news is that the Youth Independence Day Candlelight Procession is taking place in all states of the Federation. So if you are in your youth, be part of it where you live. History will not forgive us if we live in Nigeria of today and fail to act to stop this free fall into the abyss of our only country. In due course, I shall post the locations of all other states but as given above, that of Lagos starts from Ikeja Secretariat. And in Abuja, we shall converge on Eagles Square where we shall commence the procession. I shall be in Abuja on that day. This is a battle for the soul of our country, a battle for the future of our children, a battle for our dignity as a people. We have all it takes to Nigeria work and become GREAT. Let's do it! My regards,

Posted by Orobosa Benin city on Oct 01 2009

I really Appreciate you guys so much for letting us know things that was not told,,, the problem of Nigeria is our Press they don’t know their right….a situation where they go behind to collect money from leaders and later they will now come back to paint them white is unfair. Please for me I think Yar adua is a good man but the people working with him are all corrupt. 80% of them are thief that is why he is facing difficulty in his government.

Posted by yonnyharry on Oct 01 2009

the rate of Cyber crime in the future will be wat ll drag nigeria down to the mot and it is the IT knowledge that will lift nigeria to the top only if the crued oil is finished

Posted by AKINPELU TOLULOPE on Oct 01 2009

God should just intervain

Posted by ojonugwa M.B on Oct 03 2009

SUCH A NICE WRITE UP, I ENCOURADE U KEEP UP UR SPIRIT. NICE WEEKEND!