2023: Former PTI director, Dauda charges leaders on peace, unity

A former director of the Petroleum Training Institute, PTI, Delta state of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdu Dauda has advised the religious leaders in the country to stop making hate speeches and meddling in politics but should preach peace, harmony and assist the governments to build and develop the nation.

Alhaji Abdu Dauda, who was a Director and Head of Department, Petroleum Analysis Laboratory, Petroleum Training Institute PTI, Effurun, Delta State, made the call in an interview on Thursday in Warri, Delta State.

While cautioning Nigerians to shun religious sentiments, he said the 2023 elections should not be about Christian or Muslim, but about electing the best candidates who can deliver when elected.

“Good enough, the presidential candidates of the major political parties were former governors and former vice presidents. Nigerians should take a look at their records, and assess the presidential candidates based on their records, and what they did and achieved. That is what should determine who we should vote for. We should not be sentimental on either ethnic or religious inclinations.”

He stated, ” It is possible to have an election without violence. We should ensure to strengthen our democracy which must be guided by the constitution and our elections must be seen to be free, fair and transparent. Political parties and politicians should ensure that our electoral processes evolve transparently.”

Dauda said job creation remains the major solution to curtailing youths’ restiveness and worsening insecurity in the country.

He appealed to the federal government and State Governors to formulate policies that will create employment to tackle the menace of youth restiveness, unemployment and insecurity confronting the country.

The Jigawa-born academia, said though government alone cannot employ the youths, the government can provide the enabling environment for the private sector to strive and succeed to absorb the youths.

“The increasing rate of youth unemployment is the major cause of youth restiveness, violence and insecurity. And the menace is becoming a threat because youths are graduating annually from various institutions without anything to do and they start engaging in bad things. This is not good for the country.”

Dauda noted that the government needs to understand the root cause of insecurity and other criminal activities happening in society and find lasting solutions to the problems.

” We do not expect to have a society where there is a hundred per cent security, there is no such place anywhere in the world. However, as a country and government, we must do anything and everything to ensure that our country is safe for all citizens irrespective of religion. Also, jobs should be created for the youths.”

The former director advised the federal government to give priority to providing a constant power supply to help the private sector and manufacturing companies, adding: “setting up a small factory to employ a few Nigerians, and run the factory on costly diesel, is consuming and discouraging. Government must address the issue of power supply.”