A group known as One Destiny Organization (ODO) says the comment credited to President Muhammadu Buhari was not meant to deride the larger percentage of energetic and vibrant Nigeria youths but a problem-solving approach aimed at encouraging those that may not have positioned themselves gainfully by way of education and skill acquisition.

In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Ohiri O. Lewis, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Friday, ODO alluded that the “failures of the past administrations to plan and wittingly engage the Nigerian youths meaningfully could have aroused Mr. Present consciousness towards exposing the problem at the international arena, hence his administration has redeemably rolled out programmes and policies designed to create diverse opportunities for the younger ones.”

The group argued that President Buhari’s glowing antecedent predicated on threshold of honesty, sincerity and truth couldn’t have been subjected to questioning by admitting hook, line and sinker that all Nigerian youths are roundly educated and productive, hence it is a common knowledge that many nations equally share a percentage of this ‘lazy’ youths.

ODO further maintained that President Buhari-led government is championing youth-friendly policies and programmes aimed at engaging the youths thereby reducing youth unemployment in the country.

“We also wish to recall that President Buhari, through the Bank of Industry, developed the Youth Entrepreneurship Support programme also known as the YES program. The primary target of this entrepreneurship programme is to fight youth unemployment in Nigeria. The main idea is to teach young business owners how to conduct business in Nigeria. This programme will create several hundreds of new entrepreneurs with business management and entrepreneurship skills who will later create additional jobs on the market, and help other young people. This programme involves young people from 18 to 35 ,years old. The primary idea is to decrease the unemployment rate among youths in Nigeria.

“ODO, however, appeals to Nigerian youths and other well-meaning individuals to disregard all negative interpretations given to President Buhari’s assertion by the parochial opposition who are uncomfortable with the giant strides recorded by the present administration. President Buhari is working tirelessly to create opportunities for all Nigerian youths, including those that may not have done enough to position themselves for prosperity,” Ohiri posited in the statement.

While accusing some sections of the opposition of erroneously and always misinterpreting Buhari’s comment, ODO enjoined the youths not to relent from supporting the President and his administration.

“ODO appeals to Nigerian youths and other well-meaning individuals to disregard all negative interpretations given to President Buhari’s comment by the parochial opposition who are uncomfortable with the giant strides recorded by the present administration. President Buhari is working tirelessly to create opportunities for all Nigerian youths including those that may not have done enough to position themselves gainfully for productivity.

“Finally, we enjoin our youths to remain consistent with Mr. President as well as show greater support to his administration towards building a new nation of our collective dream and aspirations,” the group concluded.

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