Agency Report

By Muhammad Tijjani

Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, says Nigeria must harness its youth population to drive national transformation and make impact on the global stage.

Gambari made the call while delivering the 20th convocation lecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), on Tuesday in Kaduna.

The lecture titled, ‘National Security, Defence and Diplomacy in an Evolving World Order’, was part of events for the passing out of Cadets of 69 Regular Course and post graduate students of the NDA.

Gambari said conventional indicators of potential power and influence in international relations include the population endowment of countries.

He added that Nigeria, by 2050, would emerge as the third or fourth most populous country in the world after India and China.

Gambari, therefore, said it was imperative for Nigeria to convert its endowment of youthful population into real power and influence.

He said this should be done through concious policies and political efforts.

The Chief of Staff noted that the international system has been recording changes and becoming mutually reinforcing, with demography playing a huge part.

Gambari said while some parts of the world have ageing population, Africa, including Nigeria have huge population of young people, which should be positively used to make impact in all sectors.

He added that the population growth in Nigeria remained relatively high, with the youth comprised of as much as 60 per cent of the total population.

Gambari said a major part of the population of Nigerians are under 35 years of age.

The former Nigerian Envoy to the United Nations, also advocated for a fully reformed and revamped multilateral system, complete with permanent seats for Africa in the Security Council.

According to him, that would constitute an important umbrella for protecting national interest and addressing many challenges which boarders predominantly on the youthful population.

Earlier, Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Yusuf, said that the cadets would pass out on Oct. 6, with President Muhammadu Buhari expected to be the Reviewing Officer.

He said the convocation lecture marks the commencement of activities lined up for the passing out parade.

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News Politics

Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Dogara, Lawal may soon dump APC for PDP or Labour Party

BAYO WAHAB

September 28, 2022 5:56 AM

The APC chieftains have been criticising the party since it settled for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2023 elections.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and ex-Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara. (Punch)

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and ex-Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara may soon dump the ruling All Progressives Congress over their displeasure with the party’s Muslim-Muslim ticket.

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In an interview with ThePunch on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, no decision has been made yet but they are considering a move to another party.

The APC chieftains have been criticising the party since it settled for a Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket for the 2023 elections.

Lawal and Dogara recently vowed to mobilise Northern Christians to reject the Tinubu/Shettima joint ticket.

According to the former SGF, their agitation against Tinubu/Shettima ticket is not personal, adding that their rejection of the ticket was a representation of the wish of Nigerians who are demanding “demanding for fair and equitable representation.”

“What we are doing is for the sake of Nigeria. Of the 18 political parties in the country, we are talking to the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, and the New Nigeria Peoples Party. It is only the APC that has rejected us; the other 17 parties have not. So, those three are in the foreground of our discussion for now, but no decision has been taken," he said.

Lawal added that the fact that MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe ran on the same-faith ticket in 1993 is not sufficient for the APC to replicate it for the 2023 general election.

He said, “Yes, Abiola and Kingibe did it but was the election not annulled? Have these people bothered to find out why the election was annulled? I am a member of the APC but we are the voices of those who have been mistreated. Since it is too late to form our party now, we are evaluating the options before us.

He further disclosed that they were listening to political parties that are receptive to them, adding that they were already in talks with some parties.