The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has defended the empowerment initiative to the Nigerian youths of President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu.
Apparently reacting to criticisms by Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, son of the Bauchi State governor, NANS’ Senate President, Usman Nagwaza condemned what he described as an attempt to shift government responsibilities to private individuals.
Nagwaza criticised Shamsudeen’s remarks, questioning how a beneficiary of his father’s political position could turn around to lecture on youth empowerment when the administration he was closely affiliated with had failed to make tangible progress in that regard.
“It is both amusing and infuriating to witness a man who basks in the privileges of his father’s gubernatorial office pontificate on youth empowerment while his own lineage has spectacularly failed in that regard.
“Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed should be mortified by his audacity in seeking to deflect responsibility from an administration that his father leads,” Nagwaza said.
He challenged the Bauchi State government to present a track record of its efforts in job creation, ICT development, and business incubation for young people.
He also argued that it was unjust to place the burden of solving unemployment on Seyi Tinubu, a private citizen, while an elected government shirks from its responsibilities.
“To demand that Seyi Tinubu who holds no executive powers should miraculously solve the unemployment crisis of a state with a fully constituted government is nothing but a theatrical display of abdication of duty.
“This attempt to shift responsibility to an individual outside the corridors of power reeks of either willful ignorance or calculated mischief,” he added.
Nagwaza commended Seyi Tinubu’s philanthropic contributions across Nigeria, emphasising that his charitable efforts should be applauded rather than criticised.
He urged Tinubu to remain steadfast in his mission to support the youth, despite what he described as “the bitter wailings of naysayers.”
He reminded government officials that leadership comes with responsibility and should not be offloaded onto private individuals, stating that those in power should focus on their own duties before pointing fingers.
