He cited the failure of the Federal Government to punish the members of the violent Ombatse cult who killed over 70 security personnel in Nasarawa State, noting that it was such impunity that encouraged people to commit grave crimes.
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He spoke on Friday during the Emerging Leaders’ Conference 2014 organised by a non-governmental organisation, the Guardian of the Nation International, in Abuja, with the theme, “Leadership for Transformation: A call to make a difference.”
The event is a two-day annual conference for young leaders and a gathering of 1,000 leaders from across Nigeria who are making progress in their fields of endeavours.
Fayemi said, “Only one or two persons have been convicted for terrorism in the last four or five years. If you give somebody the impression that nothing would happen if you do this, the person will likely continue to do worse things.
“I remember the killing of over 70 security operatives in Nasarawa State and one of the heads of the security agencies had the temerity to say he has forgiven them, so it is no surprise that a few days ago, a crisis erupted in the state because we have promoted impunity to a prime level.”
The governor described Nigeria as a nation of armchair critics and ringside spectators in spite of the challenges and crises facing the country.
He also described youths as “Twitter activists” who are only content with complaining about the situation around them without engaging in anything to change the status quo.
Fayemi, however, wondered why the country was being ruled by old men when 70 per cent of the population are youths, adding that the youths need to be actively engaged in the nation’s development.
“Don’t just Tweet the change, be the change,” he told the youths at the conference.
The Chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Mr. Wale Aboderin, who encouraged youths to strive to be the best they could, advised them to develop a reading culture, which he said would prepare them for leadership positions.
According to him, a good leader must have compassion and humility and should be able to network with others to actualise his dreams and plans.
Aboderin said, “A good leader must have humility and compassion and must network among people. He should be able to network with others because a joint venture is better than a monopoly. So, don’t just dress where you are coming from, dress where you are going.”
Aboderin, whose charge to the youths, elicited a loud applause from the audience, also harped on showing love to the poor, saying it is important to show charity to the less- privileged in the society.
The President, GOTNI, Linus Okorie, said the organisation is a youth leadership development group that has over the years been relentless in its efforts to groom and develop leaders for the African continent.
He explained that the NGO drives its vision through series of leadership events, seminars and programmes, some of which include the Emerging Leaders Conference, Leadership Roundtables and the Leadership clinic held across cities in Nigeria.
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