Rawlings denies backing Buhari’s stance on Nigerian youth

Founder of NDC, Jerry John Rawlings

Former President John Jerry Rawlings has denied supporting comments made by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari on youth in the West African Nation.

President Buhari was heavily criticized on social media after suggesting that many young Nigerians believe they have to “do nothing” in order to enjoy free homes, hospitals and schooling because they live in an oil-rich country.

He made the comment in London where he attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

“We have a very young population. More than 60% of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them haven’t been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil-producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare, education free,” Mr. Buhari said.

President Muhammadu-Buhari

Some media houses, according to Mr. Rawlings’ office, had subsequently quoted the former Ghanaian leader as having supported Mr. Buhari’s comments.

However, the office of Mr. Rawlings, in a statement, indicated that he had “made no comment whatsoever or issued a statement on the comments by President Buhari.”

It said “any comments purportedly coming from Mr. Rawlings are false and a creation of individuals who wish to use the former President of Ghana’s name for their own political interests.”

Find below the statement from Mr. Rawlings’ office

The attention of the office of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, former President of Ghana, has been drawn to a post on various media, especially in Nigeria, professing his support for comments made by President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigerian youth.

The office wishes to state that former President Rawlings has made no comment whatsoever or issued a statement on the comments by President Buhari.

Any comments purportedly coming from Mr. Rawlings are false and a creation of individuals who wish to use the former President of Ghana’s name for their own political interests.

All official statements or comments by Flt Lt Rawlings can be found on his Twitter handle @officeofJJR or his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/President.J.J.Rawlings/ Thank you.