A former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, has cautioned political leaders across the country against turning Nigerian youths into political labourers, describing the trend as dangerous to democracy and a threat to the future of the country if not urgently checked.

Lamido gave the warning while fielding questions from journalists at his Dutse residence on Sunday, shortly after a colloquium organised to celebrate his 78th birthday.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain and two-term governor of Jigawa State said the trend was dangerous to the future of the country.

“We are abusing our youths. We turn them into political labourers, thugs and praise singers instead of grooming them for leadership,” Lamido said.

He warned that if the practice continued, Nigeria would suffer moral decadence and leadership collapse.

“When you use the youth only to rig elections, to insult opponents on social media and to fight your political battles, you are destroying their future,” he cautioned.

Lamido lamented that some leaders in positions of authority and those vying for political offices were misleading youths in ways contrary to good morals.

“The youth should be taught ideology, sacrifice and service, not how to abuse elders and chase money during elections,” he said.

He said the future of Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development depended largely on how youths were mentored.

“If we fail to guide them properly today, we are mortgaging the future of this country politically and in all endeavours,” he warned.

Lamido recalled the guidance given to young leaders since the First Republic, which he said helped shape national development.

“In the First and Second Republics, leaders mentored us. Aminu Kano, Shehu Shagari and others taught us ideology. Today, what are we teaching the youth?” he asked.

Earlier, during the colloquium held the same day in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, thousands of supporters of the former governor, the majority of whom were youths, gathered to celebrate him.

The colloquium was themed, “Guiding Youths on Political Ideology for Building a New Nigeria.”

The chairman of the occasion and former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, urged youths to embrace ideological politics.

“Politics without ideology is empty. You must unite, be dedicated and make sacrifices for the development of this country,” Makarfi said.

Makarfi urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used by desperate politicians.

A special lecture was also delivered by Dr Auwal Anwar on the theme of the colloquium.

Anwar said Nigerian youths must be reoriented towards ideological politics to build a new Nigeria.

“Without ideological conviction, our politics will continue to be about stomach infrastructure,” he stated.

The lecture was followed by suggestions and remarks from discussants, including university dons.

Professor Kamilu Fagge of Bayero University, Kano, said youths must be empowered with knowledge rather than weapons.

“Youths are the engine of any nation. If you misdirect them, you kill the nation,” Fagge said.

Dr Akilu Indabawa, also of BUK, said political education should be introduced to rescue youths from manipulation.

Professor Nu’uman Habib, in his remarks, warned that drug abuse and political thuggery among youths were connected to bad leadership.

Also speaking, renowned Islamic cleric and ADC Kano governorship candidate for the 2027 election, Malam Ibrahim Khalil, called for moral rebirth.

“The youth need spiritual and moral guidance. Politics without morality will not take us anywhere,” Khalil said.