Ask politicians to use their own children for violence – Bawumia to zongos

Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as urged the youth of Muslim-dominated inner-cities (Zongos) to ask politicians who recruit them for violence, to use their own children instead.

“They come to you and tell you to go and perpetuate violence and other acts while their own children are in school, doing good jobs or abroad working to better their lives. When these politicians come to you, ask them why they are not using their own children to do what they’re asking you to do”, Dr Bawumia said when he spoke at the 51st anniversary ceremony of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by Sheikh Abdul Wadud in Kumasi on Sunday, 10 March 2019.

He said instead of allowing themselves to be used as political vigilantes, they should aim at being ‘job-lantes’, ‘edu-lantes’ and ‘busi-lantes’.

“Allah has blessed the zongo youth with multiple positive attributes and talents such as strength, courage, knowledge, sport skills, entrepreneurship, vocational skills, etc. and I want to urge the youth of this country, particularly my dear brothers in the Zongo Communities to put their God-given talents to good use for their own benefits and for the benefit of their respective families, communities as well as the nation.

“The youth of our country, particularly my brothers from the zongo communities, should not, under any circumstance, avail themselves of use for any illegal activity, which also pose great risks to their valuable and cherished lives”, Dr Bawumia said.

He added: “I want to urge the youth who are involved in the operations of the various political parties to exhibit great sense of tolerance, whether it is intra-party, or inter-party contest. For the zongo and Muslim youth, it is even more important, and an obligation to be tolerant and peaceful in accordance with the teachings of our beloved Prophet Muhammad”.

“Also, the government is set to undertake massive infrastructure development in the roads and other construction sectors this year, and this will create employment opportunities for many of our skilled and unskilled youth across the country”, the vice-president said.