‘Japa’ Syndrome: Ex-Speaker charges Nigerian leaders to save mass exodus of youths to Europe, others

*Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, immediate past Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, charges the Executive and Legislative arms of the government must act fast to save the mass exodus of bright Nigerian youths to Europe, and other parts of the world

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, immediate past Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has stated the new crop of legislators must restore faith in young people or risk the unforgiving judgment of history.

ConsumerConnect reports Gbajabiamila said this during the recent valedictory session organised for the 9th House, in Abuja, FCT, noted that the young population have lost faith in Nigeria, and are choosing to seek their fortunes and their futures in other countries around the world.

The former Speaker Wednesday, June 14, 2023, resumed office the Chief of Staff (CoS) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

At the valedictory last weekend, the former Speaker also said the Executive and Legislative arms of the government must act fast to save the mass exodus of bright youths to Europe, and other parts of the world.

Addressing his colleagues in the House recently, Gbajabiamila further stated: “Honourable colleagues, despite the considerable investments we have made to improve our public infrastructure and the numerous reforms we have enacted to change how we administer the government, our country faces many significant challenges.

“These challenges have caused many of our fellow citizens to wonder if the promise of democracy will ever become real in their lives.

“Too many of our young people have lost faith entirely and are choosing in droves to seek their fortunes and their futures in other lands.”

He as well noted: “We are losing some of our best and brightest, and if we don’t act now, the consequences of this loss will shortly become painfully evident.

“How do we ensure a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides opportunities for all who work hard to succeed through their labour and ingenuity?”

Gbajabiamila also quipped: “How do we protect our people from the marauders and insurgents, the petty criminals and assorted villains who wish to harm them, whether for profit or in service of other agendas?

“How do we restore faith in our young people so that so many of them no longer feel like the only way to achieve their best aspirations is to chase their fortunes in far away, often hostile lands?

“These are the critical questions all of us in government must answer or risk the unforgiving judgment of history. With each new day, we have an opportunity to make the hard choices and take the necessary actions to guarantee our nation’s future.

“With each new day, we have less time to act and a more outstanding obligation to act quickly.”

Former Speaker assumes office as Tinubu’s CoS

Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila, following his resignation from the House of Representatives Wednesday, has taken up his role as Chief of Staff to President.

Earlier, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of House of Reps has presented and read Gbajabiamila’s letter of resignation on the floor of the House to this effect.

The current House member representing Surulere 1, in Lagos State, has now tendered his resignation and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will have to conduct a fresh election to fill the role in the Federal Legislature.

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