Returned governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shettima has lamented the fact the current level of unemployment in the country has forced many Nigerian youths to become “political trekkers,”.
Shettima said to change the trekking mentality he would more energies in job creation.
The returning governor, according to the Daily Post said this during his inaugural speech shortly after he took the oaths of office and allegiance alongside his deputy, Alhaji Zannah Mustapha at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri on Friday.
Borno state Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah Shettima while delivering the outh also decried the was unemployed youths in the State have become vulnerable to “external manoeuvre.”
The judge said he did not mean to mock or condemn the trekkers but was sad that unemployment has forced the youths to distance trekking.
His words, “I really do not think any youth that is gainfully employed could have embarked on trekking for weeks. For me, I have taken note of two messages from these trekkers. The first message is a strong and bold reminder that there are no jobs for the youths in Nigeria.
“The second, which I consider more seriously, is that Nigerian youths have the courage and strength to do what many leaders never thought they could do. If youths can trek from one state to another, it means they have potential for good use while they have strength to revolt like Lions in the event they are pushed to the wall.
“We must create jobs for Nigerian youths,” he added.
Governor Shettima also lamented that Borno residents had suffered numerous hardships following Boko Haram attacks in the state. The governor pointed an accusing finger to the out-gone administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for taking the plight of the people light-heartedly.
Since the victory of Buhari at the March 28 presidential poll, various people have decided to honour him by walking. First, it was Suleiman Hashimu, who walked from Lagos to Abuja to honour the president-elect.
Another supporter, Mohammed Kabiru Jafaru, however, took a different route by opting to congratulate the vice President elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, by riding his bicycle from Kaduna to Lagos state.
Late in April, another man, Adamu Abdullahi, announced his intention to walk from Maiduguri to Abuja to honour the president-elect, Muhammudu Buhari.
Asides these people, at least 15 other people have announced their intentions to trek for Buhari or trek to Otueke to praise President Goodluck Jonathan, for conceding defeat at the polls.
Another five men said they were going to trek from Nigeria to Mecca to honour Buhari.
But it seems the era of trekking might be fading out as 35-year-old Isa Kwarawanga of Zubo village in Shiraz local government area, who trekked from Jama’are to Bauchi to appreciate the victory of the state governor-elect Barrister Mohammed Abubakar, met no welcoming party.
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