Child exploitation
May 4th, 2011 by admin
The elections have come and thankfully they were credible, according to UN and EU observers. Nevertheless, as the nation savours the success of the nation, I am left with a sour taste in my mouth as I take in the pictures that made headlines recently, The Punch Newspaper, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 during the elections, child voters in Jos, Plateau state, visibly queuing up and holding voter cards ready to vote. The rampant underage voting was very common in the North. My countenance dropped when I saw the pictures as i wondered how free and fair the elections really were. In any case, i look back with a sense of gloom, wondering how much we need to work at solving the problems of Nigeria. These issues, so entrenched in our polity affect the quality of our leaders. It is a country where people who have not done anything meaningful for themselves and the society can get into public office. The real reason for trying to get into office is wanting to access the power and economic gains tied to that position. It is all about enriching oneself. It is never about service to the nation or what you can do for the people.
As I look back at the process of attaining democracy I shake my head in shame at what our leaders have allowed to happen to the future generation. I wonder how much was given to these children. Anyway, President Good luck Jonathan said on CNN that the Post-election violence was largely possible “because of the huge unemployment in the country, as youths could be paid as little as N500 to do just about anything.”
While I commend Prof Jega, for a job well done, I note with serious concern that if our children are continually exploited the future of our country will be in jeopardy. These children are the heritage of Nigeria and if used in this manner, unfortunately become losers. Everybody wants a fool, but nobody wants him for a son. (African proverb)Mallam Isa Yugudu, Governor of Bauchi State in the Punch Newspapers of Friday, April 29, 2011, while reacting to the violence that engulfed the state in the wake of the announcement of 2011 Presidential election, which claimed over 100 lives including several youth corpers serving as INEC ad hoc officials was quoted as saying “they (fresh graduates) were destined to experience what they experienced, in other words they were supposed to die the way they did, they were the scapegoats. As unbelievable as his words were it means too, that our children can be allowed to strive for bread and butter at any cost. .
It is painful if children are made to carry the failures of their leaders. What is strange is the fact that nobody is asking how underage children were allowed to vote and how they came about their voter cards. Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse. (African proverb) I have asked myself over and over again why these children were allowed to vote but these are just my questions because the answers will probably never come. The matter should be addressed and the truth unearthed. Again, these actions simply highlight the level of poverty. On a final note, Africa, Nigeria should cease been synonymous with child soldiers, disease, genocide, witchcraft and banditry.
The reoccurring violence in the north should be brought to an end by the present regime. With this Goodluck Jonathan will certainly write his name in gold
The Nigerian child is terribly marginalised .Year in ,year out policies are made for children but are never implemented. Parents should strive hard to pass the right values on to the next generation. like a relay race the baton must be passed on correctly otherwise the race will be disqualified. Those underaged children simply did as they were told by their parents/guardians .They did not know any better. Issues affecting the future of the nigerian child should leave the realm of committee meetings and move on to ACTION