Youths Are Drivers Of Democracy’, Says Lapang

… As DYDA Holds 2021 Food Carnival

By Daniel Agada, Jos

The Honourable Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Plateau state, Victor Lapang has charged youths in the state to be active in the political and democratic process of the country.

He said youths are the drivers of democracy and must strive to overcome the challenges that is limiting their potentials from active participation into the country’s politics.

Lapang stated this when he play host at the 2021 annual Traditional Food Carnival of the Doemak Youth Development Association (DYDA) Jos chapter held at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre in Jos the Plateau State capital.

He said the political instability Nigeria witnessed was caused by politicians, “there has been democratic instability since the returned of democracy in 1999, and 55 percent of the instability in our democracy was caused by us (politicians), and 75 percentage has been caused by the youth. Why is that so? Is because the youths are the ones that drive the democracy.

“But the unfortunate thing we had is that we did not realize that the youths drive the process of democracy. And why are the youth lagging? Is because the youths are economically handicapped. “

He said he remained optimistic that Nigeria, a third world nation will overcome her woes just as other develope nations of the world.

Lapang said Nigeria is a work in progress and all hands must be on deck to better it’s concept of governance and the nation’s democratic practice which he said is ‘slow but sure.’

He stressed that if the youths can do the things that the elderly ones could not do just as examplfy by the Doemak Youth Development Association of Pan nation, the country will be better.

“For me, I see Nigeria as a work in progress, we did not create our own system of governance.

“The colonialists came and hoisted a system on us that was strange to us and we are working within that system.

“We are not there yet, but with the youths and the will power, if we can do what the elders could not do, we will be very much more better,” he stated.

The Commissioner commended the Doemak Youth Development Association for organizing the cultural fodd carnival for 11 years consecutively which showcases the rich cultural heritage of the Pan speaking natives in the world.

The Commissioner applauded the youths also for creating platforms for discussed over the years aimed at promoting unity of the people, the state and the entire country and charged youths across the state to emulate them.

Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Manji Kwarben said the economic, social and political instability in Nigeria are all man made problems confronting the country which required human efforts especially young people in correcting them.

In his words, “Inline with this discussion, the social, economic and political instability facing the country is a man made problems and this means that our progress is in our hands.

“It is very good to come together and that is why we are here working as a family, indeed we need progress in our communities, we need progress in our state we need progress in the country,” he stated.

The Chapter Chairman of Doemak Youth Development Association in Jos said the annual traditional food carnival create an avenue for both young and old to meet and discuss issues that will promote unity, national integration and chatting a way forward for the growth of the country.

He said the food carnival often give younger children born in the city the opportunity to know about their cultural heritage, delicacies and know their root as a people.

Panalists at the 2021 annual food carnival, Mr. Innocent Danjang, Kevin Kope’p and Cornelius Doeyok both charged the youths to stive towards economic emancipation and be equipped with skills as well as explored entrepreneurial opportunities.

They cautioned the youths from being used for negative vices but ensure they get themselves involved in the political processes in the state which will armed them towards correcting some of the ills facing the country.

Some of the traditional delicacies displayed at the event are: “Nawe’e, Lua ass, Ko’o goe lem, Oeksua, Muloem, Lagoenji, Chim-aarab, Bala, Amm-toeng, Muos marr, Oegoes-Mwarang, Lua Lade, ” amongst others.