MKPISIOLAEDO DECLARATION

REFORM IS NOT REVOLUTION

Dear fellow reformers and progressives,

I wish to offer to your consideration some thoughts on the particular and general relations of man as a reformer. I shall assume that the aim of each young man in this group is the very highest that belongs to a rational mind. Let it be granted, that our life, as we lead it, is common and mean; that our communities are in shamble. None of us can claim ignorance of this fact; that some of those offices and functions for which we were mainly created are grown so rare in society, that the memory of them is only kept alive in old books and in dim traditions; that prophets and poets, that beautiful and perfect men, we are not now, no, nor have even seen such; that some sources of human instruction are almost unnamed and unknown among us; that the community in which we live will hardly bear to be told that every man should be able to enjoy the dividend of democracy as granted us by the almighty, and his daily walk elevated by intercourse with the saints above. Grant all this, as we must, yet I suppose none of my critics will deny that we ought to seek to establish ourselves in such disciplines and courses that will enthrone better governance in the grass root; that will restore people’s confidence in politics; And further, I will not dissemble my hope, that each person whom I address has felt his own call to cast aside all evil customs, timidities, and limitations, and to be in his place a free and helpful man, a reformer, a benefactor, not content to slip along through the world like a footman or a spy, escaping by his nimbleness and apologies as many knocks as he can, but a brave and upright man, who must find or cut a straight road to everything excellent in the earth, and not only go honourably himself, but make it easier for all who follow him, to go in honour and with benefit.

History has   the doctrine of Reform such as; Lutherans, Hernhutters, Jesuits, Monks, Quakers, Knox, Wesley, Sweden Borg, Bentham, today we shall have the Mkpisiolaedos. We the youths of Aba have suffered great negligence on the part of our government. Aba has lost its glory. Our future is not granted. We are dumb founded in the happening.

What we see is crime and moral decadency; our youth has lost focus and idealism. Our fathers are not in accord with the developmental changes of our era. How can one fights crime without preventing the cause of the crime? In as much as am not praising criminality or hailing immorality, let’s us dig out the foundation of these crimes. If we can’t totally uproot it, let’s weed it and curb it to its minimal degree.

Youth empowerment is not a song to be rehearsed by my fellow politicians, but a practical approach to engage the youth in meaningful occupations. What if some of the objections whereby our institutions are assailed are extreme and speculative, and the reformers tend to idealism; that only shows the extravagance of the abuses which have driven the mind into the opposite extreme. It is when government grow unreal and fantastic by too much falsehood, that the youth flies for refuge to the world of ideas, which a time is criminally minded and aims to recruit and replenish nature from that source. Let ideas establish their legitimate sway again in society, let government brings a life that is fair and poetic, and the youths will gladly be lovers, citizens, and philanthropists.

Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults.

I am appealing to all Aba youths to shun all sorts of intimidation either planned or targeted at bastardising the empowerment. We can’t continue to be fooled. Don’t give us fish. When I need fish and you aren’t there, what do I do?  Just show us how to fish. We can fish better. I see no reason why some of our brothers have vowed to enslave us in our own land. They milk our economy to the detriment of our generation.  Where are there children…they are studying in overseas. Are they better than us? We struggle to survive the epileptic educational system here, at the end, their children will come back to have the best job with little or no experience on what our community is all about. 

Because I am involved, I can beat my chest to say no to this kind of imperialism we are undergoing in our father land. Who are the imperialists, our brothers!

I attended a village primary and secondary school. Struggled under self-help to past through all my formations both in Nigeria and Europe. But every youth won’t be as lucky as I am. Therefore, I owe my God if youths are not empowered. That’s why today am giving ear to the voice of the yearning youths to join in seeing to the betterment of Aba youths. I am not better than most of you, but come let us team up to improve our lives through meaningful transformation and self-help projects. Struggle leads to change. Aba must be reformed. And the time is now!

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the youths and people of Aba, to clean the infrastructural mess, to proclaim liberty to the populace and release to them the dividends of grass root democracy, to announce an era of favour from the LORD and an administration of vindication by our God.

So help me God.