The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari, has denied describing Nigerian youths as lazy, dismissing reports circulating in sections of the media and on social media as a distortion of his remarks at the party's rally in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Yari made the clarification through a statement signed by a
former governorship aspirant in Zamfara State, Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi
following reactions to his comments at the rally held at the Godswill Akpabio
International Stadium on Friday.
The former Zamfara State governor was quoted to have stated
that hunger in Nigeria is not only caused by the government but also by
laziness among Nigerians.
"You are hungry because you are lazy. If you work hard,
you will not be hungry," Yari said.
But according to Shinkafi's statement, Yari spoke about
hunger, food availability and the cost of living during his address and
acknowledged the economic challenges facing Nigerians, stating, “we have
hunger.”
The statement further noted that Yari subsequently spoke
about the availability of food in markets and the importance of hard work in
ensuring that individuals and families can provide for themselves.
Shinkafi maintained that Yari did not mention or
specifically refer to Nigerian youths in his remarks.
It argued that interpreting his comments as an accusation
that Nigerian youths are lazy was a misrepresentation of what he actually said.
The statement also urged Nigerians to watch the full,
unedited video of the Uyo rally to understand the context of his remarks.
It further acknowledged the economic difficulties
confronting many Nigerian households, insisting that Yari's comments were not
intended to dismiss the hardship experienced by citizens.
The clarification comes amid public criticism and debate
over the remarks, with calls for political leaders to be sensitive to the
economic realities facing young Nigerians.
The statement urged media organisations and commentators who
reported that Yari called Nigerian youths lazy to review the complete footage
and correct any inaccurate reports.
It added that Nigerian youths deserve meaningful discussions
about employment, skills development and economic opportunities rather than
statements taken out of context.
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