Build A New Vision Beyond Ethnic Agenda, Natasha Charges Kogi Youth

The governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) for November 16 election in Kogi State, Barr Natasha Akpoti, Thursday, charged Kogi youth to rise beyond ethnic rivalry to build a harmonious and prosperous state.



Addressing Kogi Youth on a cultural programme organised by National Association of Kogi State Students, NAKOSS, University of Abuja chapter, Akpoti said the push for ethnic agenda has divided the people and cost them of fighting a common goal.

Akpoti who launched the cultural attires of the ethnic groups in Kogi state as one united front said, Kogi and Nigeria can only achieve her desired developmental goals only when the different groups come together as one to fight for what will unite them and turns the fortunes of the state.

Speaking on, "talckling the menace Ethnic and Religious Challenges in Nigeria: The role of students", Akpoti pointed out that, Singapore is able to achieve so high and build her economy because the people dropped their differences and grow their economy together.

According to her, Ajaokuta has been neglected and failed to live to its expectations because the people of the state have failed to come together to identify themselves beyond ethnic divide and build the prosperous economy they deserve.

"You are the hope and future of this country, you have a great potential to change the narrative by identifying yourself beyond ethnic agenda that cannot give you job.

"You can change the narrative by looking into the antecedents of the candidates for Kogi governorship election and vote in the right candidate that will drive the needed change.

"Every year, over 700,000 students graduated into the society without any assuarance of getting employed, this is the main reason you need to rise up and look beyond Igala, Okun and Ebira agenda and build an economy that works for the future", she said.

Akpoti who bagged University of Abuja NAKOSS award of excellence for her service to humanity said, a working Ajaokuta will resonates into ripple effects of down stream sector which she said is capable of providing thousand of jobs and take thousands of youths out of the street.

"The major rivalry should be development, the Igala and Okuns should see the steel industry in Ebiraland as an advantage to have more of the down stream sectors in their flat land rather than ethnic rivalry", she said.

Akpoti stressed that the youth should look beyond the four walls of their school and think outside the box, adding that Nigeria is where it's because the young people have refused to wake up and live to drive the needed change.

"Ethnic agenda should be the one that will advocate and drive for development where the youth wouldn't have to bribe to get a job because there are numerous opportunities close to them.

"No region and ethnic group can exist without the other, we need to find harmony in everything we do,
the only way we can exist is to work together, and look beyond ethnic and religious divide.

"Few years ago, we embarked on a project to produce NYSC, army and police shoes with our local cotton.
"We got the  cotton from Gombe State and wove by Okene weavers which we later took to Aba and our brothers in Abia State did the finish product and turned it into shoes.

"This is what we stand to achieve when we come together as one people irrespective of our differences, the strength of any tribe lies on the other tribe, it is about time to look at what binds us than what divide us.

"You need to remember religion is a personal belief between human and God, manna will not fall from heaven if you pray and refused to take action and work for your ends meet", she said.

Reacting, the mother of the day, Professor Munirat Yusuf Habib said Natasha Akpoti has shown she is a woman who is socially, mentally, physically feet and a detribalised reformer.

According to professor Munira, her biggest worry is how can the type of Natasha Akpoti will be the next governor of Kogi State to turn the fortunes of the state adding that,  Natasha has proven her worth by thinking outside the box to do extraordinary things to motivate the younger generation.

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