Appreciating what it calls huge sacrifices made by Chief Bode George, former deputy national chairman, South-West of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has urged Nigerian leaders to emulate the politician.
The group said that leaders who had done well should be appreciated and encouraged to spur them into contributing more, maintaining that some people had taken away things that belonged to the whole citizens, while others had used their resources and time for nation’s growth and development.
It pointed out that Nigerian youth should be able to spot these elders who had done the nation proud and recognise them.
NYCN had over the weekend in Lagos awarded George, the title of ‘Garkuwan Matasan Najeriya’, which was translated as ‘Shield of the youth of the entire Northern Nigeria’.
While describing him as philanthropist par excellence, Isa Abubakar, NYCN national president, said the group had come from the North to honour the politician, pointing out that he was not an accidental leader, but one that was destined to be one, and had served the nation in various capacities as a military leader without any iota of fear, but boldly confronting the nation’s enemies.
“He has contributed so much before the advent of democratic rule and even during the dispensation of democracy, he has not relented in his effort to see the development of the country in no small measures.
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“Those who have built bridges from one community to another to see that each community related peacefully in the united manner deserve honour. It is our responsibility in my own generation to come and tell this category of people that they have done well. It is in this strength that we have made this visit today.
“A man who has said that the unity of Nigeria is of greater purpose to him than anything else, should be recognised. We have come to tell him that the youth of Northern Nigeria are solidly behind him. We believe in his ideology.
“He has contributed greatly to the community where he was military administrator, established institutions of learning and that community as of today has produced millions of graduates. He has produced presidents in this country when he campaigned for our brothers in the Northern part of the country, to become presidents. He did that without any iota of divisity. He believed in education,” he said.
Abubakar maintained that George would be decorated as NYCN’s Grand Patron, as well as ‘Garkuwan Matasan Najeriya’, saying having assisted uncountable number of them into political positions, without consideration of ethnic or religious affiliations, the PDP chieftain deserved to be encouraged.
George was also presented with a leadership certificate as a Philanthropist Par Excellence, while his wife was decorated with Medal of Bravery for her motherly role, according to the group.
While appreciating the youth for the gesture done him, George charged those fanning embers of disunity for selfish gain to remember that power was transient, maintaining that every Nigerian irrespective of ethnic or religious differences must work together for the good of the nation.
The presentations were made in the presence of friends of ‘Atona Oodua of Yoruba land’, including Ebenezer Babatope, former Minister of Transport, Dr. Remi Akitoye, member, PDP Board of Trustees, former deputy governor of Lagos State, Kofo Akerele-Bucknor, and a host of others.
