At Awolowo HID memorial, cleric laments neglect of youth future, salient issues for 2023 election
Vicar, HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu, Ogun State, Reverend Morakinyo Oyedeji lamented the continued neglect of the future of the youth and the salient issues affecting the nation.
Rather, he said the country's leadership is currently focused on scheming for political office in the 2023 general election.
Oyedeji said this is evidenced by the fact that the standoff between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government has not been resolved for more than seven months.
Deploring the serious consequences of the prolonged strike on the affected students, ranging from frustration to depression, idle lives and a tendency to commit illicit acts, Oyedeji said that a declaration of a state of emergency on the country's education sector was long overdue.
Contained in his sermon on the seventh anniversary of the remembrance and patronage of Chief (Dr) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo held at HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Ewuga, Sagamu, Ogun State, the cleric described as discouraging the fact that the nation's economy, safety and security system, education and health sectors are not in good condition.
Noting that it was next to impossible for every Nigerian to afford the cost of sponsoring their children/wards to private universities, Oyedeji urged the Federal Government and ASUU to amicably resolve the issue to avoid the 'it gets out of control.
Oyedeji said, "Our undergraduate students have been home since February 14 due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. These students are frustrated, depressed and downcast. Many of them are disinterested in education. Many of them have been involved in accidents. Many females have been impregnated. There are those who are involved in illicit acts due to idleness. An idle hand is the workshop of the devil. We call for a state of emergency in education.
“I want to appeal to the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve the issue amicably before it spirals out of control. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has already embarked on the blockade international flights to the government that needs to do something urgently Our leaders are focused on who will arrive in Aso Rock in 2023 neglecting the salient issues and the future of our young people It is disheartening Our leaders who have fought for our independence in 1960 left us with a great legacy. People like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa meant well to us; they made good political structures; they were futuristic. The labor of our past heroes is it not vain to look at our sectors of the economy, education and health?
"Private universities are gaining ground over public universities and this can cripple public schools. These private universities are not affordable to the common man due to soaring tuition fees. I strongly believe that if some of our leaders have their children in our public schools and are part of this strike, something will have been done.”
With the 2023 elections, the cleric urged Nigerians to vote wisely to avoid electing the wrong leaders.
“The 2023 general election is fast approaching. Our fellow citizens should prepare their permanent voter card (PVC) and vote wisely. Do not be deceived by money or material things so as not to be sent for another four or eight years of exile. No place is safe to travel and no means of transportation is safe,” Oyedeji added.
The two-in-one event saw the Bishop of the Diocese of Remo (Anglican Communion), Msgr. Michael Fape, pray for the nation, the sick and suffering, Christians and the Obafemi Awolowo family.
In her remarks, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu was full of gratitude for the success of the memorial, expressing her optimism for a much grander memorial in the following years.
Some dignitaries who joined the memorial service were Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Bola Osibodu, Jayne Shoboiki, Ayotola Ayodeji, Idowu Owolana, Olukemi Aderemi, Segun Olatunji, Yemisi Subair, Gboyega Adejumo, Akin Aduwo, Seni Shoboiki, Jide Johnson, Bolatito Oloketuyi, Adebola Awolowo, Enike Omotayo, Moses Babatunde, Deji Ogunyemi, Esther Onagoruwa, Grace Ajayi, Ladi Soyode, Taiwo Gani-Ikilama.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Vicar, HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu, Ogun State, Reverend Morakinyo Oyedeji lamented the continued neglect of the future of the youth and the salient issues affecting the nation.
Rather, he said the country's leadership is currently focused on scheming for political office in the 2023 general election.
Oyedeji said this is evidenced by the fact that the standoff between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the federal government has not been resolved for more than seven months.
Deploring the serious consequences of the prolonged strike on the affected students, ranging from frustration to depression, idle lives and a tendency to commit illicit acts, Oyedeji said that a declaration of a state of emergency on the country's education sector was long overdue.
Contained in his sermon on the seventh anniversary of the remembrance and patronage of Chief (Dr) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo held at HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Ewuga, Sagamu, Ogun State, the cleric described as discouraging the fact that the nation's economy, safety and security system, education and health sectors are not in good condition.
Noting that it was next to impossible for every Nigerian to afford the cost of sponsoring their children/wards to private universities, Oyedeji urged the Federal Government and ASUU to amicably resolve the issue to avoid the 'it gets out of control.
Oyedeji said, "Our undergraduate students have been home since February 14 due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike. These students are frustrated, depressed and downcast. Many of them are disinterested in education. Many of them have been involved in accidents. Many females have been impregnated. There are those who are involved in illicit acts due to idleness. An idle hand is the workshop of the devil. We call for a state of emergency in education.
“I want to appeal to the Federal Government and ASUU to resolve the issue amicably before it spirals out of control. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has already embarked on the blockade international flights to the government that needs to do something urgently Our leaders are focused on who will arrive in Aso Rock in 2023 neglecting the salient issues and the future of our young people It is disheartening Our leaders who have fought for our independence in 1960 left us with a great legacy. People like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe and Alhaji Tafawa Balewa meant well to us; they made good political structures; they were futuristic. The labor of our past heroes is it not vain to look at our sectors of the economy, education and health?
"Private universities are gaining ground over public universities and this can cripple public schools. These private universities are not affordable to the common man due to soaring tuition fees. I strongly believe that if some of our leaders have their children in our public schools and are part of this strike, something will have been done.”
With the 2023 elections, the cleric urged Nigerians to vote wisely to avoid electing the wrong leaders.
“The 2023 general election is fast approaching. Our fellow citizens should prepare their permanent voter card (PVC) and vote wisely. Do not be deceived by money or material things so as not to be sent for another four or eight years of exile. No place is safe to travel and no means of transportation is safe,” Oyedeji added.
The two-in-one event saw the Bishop of the Diocese of Remo (Anglican Communion), Msgr. Michael Fape, pray for the nation, the sick and suffering, Christians and the Obafemi Awolowo family.
In her remarks, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosumu was full of gratitude for the success of the memorial, expressing her optimism for a much grander memorial in the following years.
Some dignitaries who joined the memorial service were Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Bola Osibodu, Jayne Shoboiki, Ayotola Ayodeji, Idowu Owolana, Olukemi Aderemi, Segun Olatunji, Yemisi Subair, Gboyega Adejumo, Akin Aduwo, Seni Shoboiki, Jide Johnson, Bolatito Oloketuyi, Adebola Awolowo, Enike Omotayo, Moses Babatunde, Deji Ogunyemi, Esther Onagoruwa, Grace Ajayi, Ladi Soyode, Taiwo Gani-Ikilama.
ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
What's Your Reaction?
