Fulani leader wants inter-tribal marriages among NYSC members

Abuja -The Ardo Fulani of Suleja, Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim, on Wednesday called for inter-tribal marriages among youth corps members to foster unity among Nigerians.

Ibrahim made the call in an interview when he visited the NYSC 2012 batch C corps members posted to Abuja at the FCT Orientation Camp, Kubwa.

He said inter-tribal marriages among corps members’ would bridged barriers that existed between the various Nigerian societies.

According to him, the marriages must be encouraged to bring people from different sections of the country together without recourse to thinking that something will happen to the spouses in a particular section of the country.

“My first child married a Yoruba lady, they are living peacefully in Sokoto with three children and they met during their NYSC primary assignment in Oyo State in 2003.

“My in-laws in the South never think of their child being killed or molested during any civil strife because they know that she is safe here,’’ he said.

Ibrahim also called for the overhaul of the new NYSC policy of posting corps members to only four sectors: health, education, agriculture and infrastructure.

“I pity the state NYSC offices. Like in Abuja, how many agricultural outfits do we have that can contain at least 1,000 corps members that were to be posted to agric sector for their primary assignment.’’

He said apart from the agricultural sector, the health and other sectors too required professionals, pointing out that only those qualified should be posted to the sectors.

The 2011 Batch C youth corps members that passed out on Oct. 18 in Abuja, witnessed over five marriages contracted among them.

Mr Frank Okpunobi, the Coordinator, FCT NYSC, told NAN that no fewer than 30 child births were recorded during the period.

According to him, the marriages indicate that Nigerians are still one and loved each other.