Episode 12
THE CONCERNED YOUTHS
A year later, Abe also completed this National l Youth Service Corps programme and got a good job. He gained employment with T and T Chambers. T and T was a law firm owned by Barister Ayokele a very intelligent human rights activist and legal practitioner.
Barrister Ayokele was an Abuja-based
lawyer and very famous throughout the country for his doggedness against corruption and activism against bad leadership in the country. He . was highly respected in the society. He was financially blessed and at most times, helped the poor and the needy.
Abe was happy to be employed in his chambers because he believed that he needed to acquire the necessary experience and exposure to attain success in his career from a mentor like Barrister Ayokele
Besides, Abe was thrilled with the kind of life Banister Ayokele was living. He was a selfless man who committed himself to fighting for the common man. Hehated to see people suffer. On many occasions he singlehandedly challenged the government in court on bad governance and fraudulent practlces
Therefore Abe was encouraged to take after him in a bid to help cleanse the society. Abe believed that he ebuld champlon his cause by forming a youth vanguard Later, he Came up with the idea of an orgamsatlon he called The concerned youth.
Among the the of the organisation
were general enlightenment of themasses on electoral matters, human right promotion,rule of law championing and promotion of better life for citizens. Barrister Ayokele was made the grand patron of the organisation.
Barrister Ayokele lauded Abe for his good initiative and promised to support his group in all its programmes. His deep interest in Abe began to grow. He believed that with the way Abe started, he would make a good mark on the sands of time in his generation.
Surprisingly, the wind of change was gradually blowing across the country. People were no longer contented with activities of the corrupt politicians holding public offices. They were all determined to flush out the bad eggs from the society because of the havoc they have wrecked on the country. They wanted the country to progress so also their lives. Therefore, many embraced the programmes of the Concerned Youths and its popularity spread. across the country very fast.
Moreover, as the general election drew nearer, they began to voluntarily organise symposia to educate the general public. They counselled against taking money or other material things from fraUdulent politicians to vote for them. They explained that that was the ploy the politicians often used to deceive them and later siphon public fund when they got to power.
They explained that collecting money from them amounted to sales of their votes. They used various media to drive home their points such as text messages, handbills, posters, paper advertorials and sponsored radio and television programmes.
Interestingly, people became enlightened
They wanted a change that would really affect their lives directly. They wanted good roads built, constant supply of electricity, portable water supply and provision of all other essential social amenities that could make life meaningful. The youths however counselled that, it would only be possible if credible leaders were voted into power.
Chief Jadu was aware of the activities of these youths although he had not known any member of the group. At first, he wanted to ignore them thinking that their activities were just child's play. But when he realised that they were having a dramatic influence on people, he thought that he should take a step. He believed that he could always buy them over. He remembered a particular group that once did such and immediately after giving them some large amount, trouble started among them and they eventually scattered.
Really, he was not happy about their campaign because his own profit was for the nation to remain in its poor, sorry state. He deliberately sponsored candidates to power for his personal benefits. In his kind of business, he needed to control people in power and the only way through Which he could get it was to plant people In places of authority.
Also, all other corrupt leaders and politicians Were becommg jittery because of the activities of the Concerned Youths They realised that they Were maklng impact on the society Therefore, they agreed that they must be stopped.
Later,all the political associates of Chief Jadu gathered in his house to discuss the activities of the concerned Youths. At that meeting, Chief Jadu told them his View about the group which others as well subseribed to. They all believed that
they could buy them over with money and make them work for them.
But firstly, they must identify them, invite them for a meeting andthen lure them into their fold. Some people were then assigned to conduct
research on the group and feed the house back in a forthnight. Bamu was made the head of the team.