BUHARI has failed Nigerian Youths - Barrister Habeeb Whyte Ibidapo

Exclusive interview

Buhari has failed Nigerian youths-Ibidapo

"The only thing that have change about this government is that: some people do not want to steal money again, and even if they are stealing they have another ways of stealing".

Barrister Habeeb whyte Ibidapo is a United Nations Award winner,writer, advocate of youth in governance,and initiator of #stillonOgunstatematters on twitter,in this exclusive interview with Iniobong Iwok, he says that  Nigeria's youths population are disillusioned and marginalised, and that the current APC lead administration of mohammed Buhari have failed the Nigerian youths,among several others issues.
Excerpt:

How do you access the administration of president Buhari so far?

Those that voted the present government into power are the youths. the youths so much believe in the manifesto of the APC government, most youths follow the APC manifesto and believe as a good paper work that if implemented it would lead the country to development.

Most youths follow it on social media, they talk about politics, campaign and fought the former administration of Goodluck Ebele  Jonathan out of power through their vote. I was the country cordinator of the Buhari youths evangelise, I never know Buhari or Tinubu before, we took it upon our self to campaign for the president with some friends and I though we would help to change our country.

But I was so disappointed when the government came into power and you hardly find the youths in the scheme of things. We hoped and thought this  government would bring hope for nigerian youths especially when it come to governance, their involvement  in governance, but we have been disappointed when the government  came into power and you hardly find any youths in government .
One of the manifesto of the APC is priority of the youths, how many youths  can you find in the government? How many youths is the personal assistance of the president and ministers? the youths there are their cousin,sons and daughters I use to be to be a good supported of this government But we been disappointed.

You mean you have regretted voting for him?

As at now when it come to youths activities I am very disappointed in the level of youths involvement in this government, we use our money to campaign for them most of us were unemployed and jobless and we use our savings and our little pocket money from our parent to campaign for this government.

The president promised Change are  you disappointed with the progress so far?

Change take time. But right now nothing has change in nigeria, the only thing that have change in nigeria is: politician saying I have this money some were it is for nigeria let me return it. The only thing that have change is that some people do not want to steal money again and even if they are stealing they have another way of stealing. How many capital project have been commissioned? How many youths programme is been inaugurated? How many health centres are been commissioned? except for Npower that we don't know the beneficiaries. Look at the anti corruption war; we are seeing the effect, but the vice
president promise that the looters name would be published, that have not been done and what are they using the money for?

But the anti graft war is on,and there seem to be a gradual shift in mindset among Nigerians?

How many people have been convicted of corruption or corruption related cases? How many investigation have been completed. Today you are taking this person and the next day it is someone else, leaving plethora of work for the judiciary.
The level of youths engaging in online fraud, internet hacking have increase;since the advent of the Buhari administration.


But the present -day youths have been accused of having corrupt mindset,believing in instant gratification and quick wealth mentality?.

Am a youth, money was nerve my intention when I campaign for the Buhari administration. We wanted change, assuming the Buhari government had empowered the youths am sure he would eliminates this vices. You can't remove the fact there would always be bad eggs any were; who are the immediate cause? It is our politician when one or two youths come to your office and you give them one million, two million what impression is that?.

Don't you think it is a problem of lack of investment in the youths population  their access to education?.

It is a leadership problem. I have always said it that the nigeria education policy is bad. They go to school: serve our father land and there is no job and they become useless to themselves and the society. Education is no more encouraging a lot of people have left school to be engaging in internet fraud and that is a big problem to the country.

If you meet with the president what would you tell him?

I have meet the president, I may not have met him one on one. I have  wrote several letters to him, and I wrote one that he acknowledge and he replied. I told him then that he should develop the youth constituency and he replied that we should pray for him: he also said he would fulfil all his promise to the youths constituency.

What is the Greatest challenge facing the youths?

The greatest challenge facing the youths is unemployment, the average youths is idle and don't have what to do, what do you expect from an idle mind? Because most nigerian youths have been trained to be dependent, the education curriculum need a total overhaul from primary to tertiary level: it is what our fore- father were taught that we are still been taught and the country can not develop with that.

What inform the #stillOgunState matters on twitter project?

There are a lot of great politician that have come out of Ogun state like Awolowo , Ademola Tokunbo ,Osibanjo etc. This people have contributed to the development of the state so I said to myself: that I need to come home and contribute to the development of  the state. A lot of people don't  know what is happening in the state. I said if we can not approach our politician to know what is going on, why not use the social media where a lot of youths Are. Let them come and speak to the youths ,If we invite you and you don't answer us you have already created an image in the mindset of the youth.
That is why we started this initiatives of education programme online, the first edition was a success and the second edition too was highly successful. It is not only a political thing,the focus could be business education or environment etc.

Instead of wasting your time on twitter you just come online and speak to your leader, It would come to a time that when contesting you would have no choices than to come on that platform and speak to the youths.#stillOgunstatematters on twitter. So there are so many ways of calling our leaders to order and one of them is the social media.

What is your Accessment of the ogun Governor, administration so far?

If Am going to access the government of Ogun state  I would give it a fair mark. If I was to access his first term in office he did pretty well; he change the face of the state, but if you want development it should be proper and go round the state ,of course their have been massive investment on road and infrastructure, but a lot  of the roads are bad and several others are been abandoned.

If I have to go with government of Amosun, I would tell him that we need fresh mind and people in his government, he need to involve the youths in governance, but so far he has failed worse fully in that area.

What is your view about the fight against corruption?

Between morality and legality there is schnanigal. I want to say categorically what you think is morally wrong could be legally right. But to those under trial  if you say it is one sided you may be wrong,it is the opinion of those saying that. But what you should ask is: Are they guilty? And are they nigerians?Did they serve in the previous government? Whether they have siphoned our money? Rather than complain of the president been selective; If you have any other person that is corrupt and not arrested and trial, let Nigerians write petition against those people. The president have set up a panel to prove his SSG.

Some senior Judges are been tried for corruption Cases, we saw the way they were raided by DSS,do you agree that the judiciary is corrupt?

I would agree that there is corruption in the judiciary, the corruption may be with some individuals,not with the judiciary as an institution.  Obviously in a system there would alwys be  bad eggs not with everybody.  But for the first time cases are been brought out against corrupt judges, even the NJC is advocating for the retirement of this judge they are not saying they are guilty, I believe there is alter of trust in  every rumour.
If the DSS have burglar into their house can we say they have done the right thing? And in cases of reasonability I would have love if there is petition against those people.

What is your view about the plan to set up special court for corruption cases?

If you can set up panel of enquiry or a court to deal with declaration of asset why not special court for corruption cases?  Those judges are been maltreated they are doing lot of work the government should make thing easy for them. there are lot of cases before them and we need special court for special matters,it would not be abuse we should not be negative all the time.