Stop trekking, pray instead - Buhari’s aide tells youth

Mohammed Shehu, an aide to President-elect Buhari, has advised youths to pray instead of trekking for the incoming leader’s administration. Mr. Shehu gave this advice during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja today Monday May 18th.

According to him, the incoming administration acknowledges the excitement of youths over Mr. Buhari’s election but would prefer that they channel their energies towards praying than embarking on, sometimes dangerous, journeys. What he said after the cut...

"It’s kind of overwhelming. Last week, I told youths to stay where they are, stop trekking, and pray for the incoming administration instead. We have a lot of challenges; light, unemployment, insecurity, and so on. So it is more profitable for them to stay where they are and pray instead of taking the dangerous risk of walking all the way to Abuja,’’ Mr. Shehu said.

On the allegation that the trekkers were ignored, Mr. Shehu said:

"that is not true. Even outsiders have been bringing gifts and food for them out of goodwill. It is untrue that they have been ignored or starved and this is not the first batch but you know the problem with this kind of situation is that when others hear, they keep coming."

Several young Nigerians have in the past weeks announced solidarity trekking from distant towns and cities to Abuja.

The only female among the group of 22, Lauratu Musa, said she took off from Kaduna eight days ago with her 15 year-old son, Adamu Abdullahi.

"I collected 28 goodwill letters from the various villages I lodged in on my way. This is my son, he was bitten on the way by plenty mosquitoes but we thank God we are here,’’ she said.

NAN reports that the trekkers, 22 in all, cut across various ages ranging from 20 to 63, and came from different parts of the country including Katsina, Kano, Adamawa, Yobe, Anambra and Kaduna States.

(NAN)