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Nigerians in Diaspora commend Jonathan, task Buhari on care of elderly, youths

By Tunde Oyedoyin (London) and Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi (Jos)
11 June 2015   |   11:46 pm
THE leadership of two biggest umbrella bodies of Nigerians in the United Kingdom has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to make sure both the youths and the country’s senior citizens are taken care of. They also praised his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for setting an unusual precedent of handing over smoothly to the…

GOODLUCK WITH BUHARITHE leadership of two biggest umbrella bodies of Nigerians in the United Kingdom has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to make sure both the youths and the country’s senior citizens are taken care of. They also praised his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for setting an unusual precedent of handing over smoothly to the opposition.

Speaking with The Guardian in an interview, the Chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom (CANUK), Tunde Loye, urged the new administration to provide employment opportunities for the youths, and also see to the payment of senior citizens’ pensions.

On the other hand, the National Association of Nigerian Communities (NANC) UK, in a press release signed by its president, Mr. Martins Bakare, and made available to The Guardian, said Jonathan, in conceding defeat and handing over power to the opposition smoothly, has restored Nigeria’s democratic credentials.

Bakare said: “Looking back, it is important that we thank God for the peaceful hand over. But the symbolic significance of the 2015 elections in our country is enormous.

“When incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan conceded victory to his opponent, Muhammadu Buhari after the March 28 presidential elections, an unprecedented and unexpected outcome in Nigeria, national pride, was seemingly restored immediately.

“The election outcome sent a message to other African states that the power of incumbency is not omnipotent.”

On behalf of CANUK, Loye promised the Buhari-led government the support of the organisation, saying: “I’ll tell them to engage and empower the youths. These are our future. “They should make sure they get them employed and not allow them to be roaming the streets. It can lead to a lot of ills such as armed robbery and other crimes. To prevent the youths drifting away, they should get them into education and also get them trained.

“The health system in Nigeria should be improved. The senior citizens should also be taken care of. A lot of people there don’t have their pensions paid; here in the UK, they take care of the senior citizens.”

In another development, the Secretariat of the Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Associations (CONAEDA), representing ethnic minority development associations of northern Nigeria, has congratulated Nigerians on the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections and successful handing over of the mantle of governance on May 29th 2015.

In a statement , Zuwaqhu Bonat and Solomon Suleman Sukukum, National Co-ordinator and Secretary-General respectively, said CONAEDA hoped that the lessons learnt from the conduct of campaigns and elections would be used towards the betterment of Nigeria.

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