24th April, 2015
Chief Martin Onovo, Presidential Candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP) in the March 28 election, on Thursday urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) not to recycle “old and overused politicians” in the incoming federal government.
Onovo gave the advice in Lagos at an award presentation ceremony at which the Pan-African Students Congress (PASCON) honoured him.
NAN reports that PASCON, an umbrella body that covers all students within the 51 AU recognised African countries, conferred on Onovo the “Pan-African Icon Award of Excellence”.
Speaking with newsmen after receiving the award, Onovo said that for the success of the APC-led administration; recycled, failed politicians must give room for fresh hands.
“The old and recycled politicians have failed many times and must give room for younger people with brighter vision, to push the developmental agenda of this nation.
“This group of old people has a lot of self interest stopping them from fighting corruption.
“The new administration should be a merger between old and new. If we continue with business as usual, then sorry to Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, the most important thing and the only way forward for Nigeria today is the government of national unity.
“If we keep fighting, four years will pass. Our objective should be national development.
“If we do not have synergy, our effectiveness will be compromised.
“APC campaign priority, corruption, which is number one, is a good one as Nigeria cannot go anywhere without tackling it.
“There is need to improve on power generation. If we don’t power the economy it will not grow,” he said.
According to him, the nation owes its youth a clear direction and good education.
“You can do all theoretically but action speaks louder than voice. It is critical that we act right and show them good example.
He said he accepted the PASCON award because as a student in the University of Ibadan, he was a student leader and it would help him continue to contribute his quota in helping students.
Onovo said that the African students remain the most strategic group for Africa’s future.
“The youths here will be making critical decisions in the next five years. I am not excited by awards. I get a stream of offers but I decline.
“We must intervene with the youth, especially the undergraduates, if we want our future to be great because they are critical to national development,” he said.
In his speech, the PASCON President, Mr Degboe Ayih from Malawi, said that Onovo was chosen for the award for his contributions to the growth of education and students in Nigeria.
“The Pan-African Students Congress Conference held at the University of Livingstonia, Malawi where Onovo’s contributions to education were brought to the front burner by PASCON Nigerian representatives,” he said.
Ayih said that Africa was faced with the dire consequence of years of neglect of youths in its ranks, which had resulted in various social vices.
He also used the opportunity to express worry at the Xenophobic attacks in South Africa, urging the South African government to checkmate it.