ADVERTISEMENT

Are Nigerian youths ready for leadership?

The focus has been on the need to have young people in governance with little attention being paid to the readiness of this group to lead the Nigerian nation.

About 500 protesters in Nigeria, wearing white T-shirts and brandishing placards proclaiming #NotTooYoungToRun, marched two kilometres to the National Assembly

"Children (youths) are the leaders of tomorrow," they say. This popular saying has not applied to most African countries with Zimbabwe (where Robert Mugabe has ruled as president since 1987) and Nigeria which currently has President Muhammadu Buhari (73-years-old) as it's leader.

Nigeria's youngest democratically elected president is Goodluck Jonathan, who was 54-years-old as at his time of election in 2011.

Over the years, some Nigerian youths have been used by politicians as thugs who go after ballot boxes during elections. The resultant effect is a situation where the youths continue to wait for 'tomorrow' (which will never come) while the old occupy leadership positions until death.

According to Section 65 (1)(a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), a Nigerian citizen who intends to run for the office of the president must be at least 40-years-old; Senate, 35; while the federal and state houses of assembly from 30.

ADVERTISEMENT

In a bid to change the narrative, the lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency of Lagos state at the House of Representatives, Tony Nwulu sponsored a bill seeking the reduction in age for Nigerians seeking elective positions.

The bill is seeking to reduce the qualification into the office of President from ages 40 to 30 years, office of Governor from 35 to 30 years, the Senate and Governorship from 35 to 30 years, and the federal and state houses of assembly from 30 to 25 years.

Another pillar on which the bill stands is to mainstream independent candidacy into the country's electoral process. The bill has passed second reading and it is currently at the Committee Stage. For the bill to become a law, it would need to pass through third reading, moved to the Senate for concurrence and president for assent.

Proponents of the bill are of the view that the youths (over 70 million people in Nigeria) if allowed to lead would stair the affairs of the country better than previous leaders (older politicians). The Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA), have championed the campaign for the passage of the bill.

Samson Itodo, the Head, Research Policy and Advocacy, YIAGA, told Pulse.ng that passage of the bill would increase youth participation in governance thereby reducing their vulnerability to social vices and even terrorism.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Boko Haram and ISIS will continue to radicalize young people if you don't give them space because political exclusion and radicalization are actually synonymous and there is a nexus between the two. Studies have also established that the level of political instability and violence across the world is as a result of political exclusion.

"When young people feel excluded, their commitment to the society is reduced. It is therefore important that the National Assembly writes its name in gold by reviewing our law," he said.

The Executive Director, Centre for Global Solutions and Sustainable Development (CENGSSUD) Adebowale Adeniyi, however based his argument on the giant strides of Nigerian youths mainly in entertainment.

said: The list is endless as today’s realities have shown that youths are ever ready and fit to become leaders in political space. The youths of today have transformed the entertainment industry and made Nigeria to be rated globally, names like WizKid, Davido, Olamide, Yemi Alade, Kris Daniel, Dbanj, Psquare, Tuface, Iyanya etc have made us proud globally, and apart from the entertainment, youths have taken giant strides in the business sector, technology, agriculture, sports, education etc.

He went on to say that: "If the best political position the president of Nigeria could afford to give us is the Personal Assistant on New Media, who is 24 years old, despite the full and mass support he enjoyed from us during the campaign both online and offline, then we need to have a rethink, mobilise ourselves en-mass to have a mutual interest and fight what belong to us."

ADVERTISEMENT

Opponents of this bill are of the view that the youths are too young and inexperienced. Hence the opinion that they cannot rule the country.

"That bill should be discouraged. What does a boy of 25 years know about governance? When you see these youths on the streets, some cannot even wear their trousers properly; they call it sagging. Most of them are ignorant of our culture; some cannot even greet properly. Are they the ones that we will hand over power to as Presidents, lawmakers and governors?

"We have to critically look at these things so we don't cause problems for the generation yet unborn. My advice is that they should take time to learn how these things work," a federal lawmaker who craved anonymity told correspondent.

Well, politics in Nigeria is guided by its own rules. However, God-fatherism remains a major problem. There instances where political parties/governors "anoint" (select) their candidate/replacement and force such individuals on the electorates through direct or indirect means.

ADVERTISEMENT

The situation where a single individual governs a state for eight years, gets a ministerial appointment for eight years and returns to the upper or lower chambers where he can decide to stay for life (if he is able to convince/confuse the electorates) still exist.

Cross-carpeting (moving from one political party to the other) is another major characteristics of the Nigerian political system. There are endless examples of aggrieved politicians who have moved to other parties or formed theirs in a bid to remain in power.

These and many more awaits the (relatively) innocent Nigerian youth who would like to run for an elective position should this bill be passed into law. The big question is, how many young people can play the game of Nigerian politics?

Are the youths willing to support their own? During the 2015 general election, Professor Remi Sonaiya contested for the presidential seat under KOWA Party. If Nigerian women had voted for her, perhaps we would have had Nigeria's first female president.

ADVERTISEMENT

It requires huge fund to run political campaigns. With the high unemployment rate in Nigeria where university graduates roam the streets without jobs, how many youths can fund campaigns? How many Nigerians are willing to give donations for such ventures given the economic hardship in the country?

As Nigerians look forward to having younger people in governance, these and many more could be stumbling blocks to the this quest.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

Over 100 inmates in Kano seek mercy, review of death sentences

Over 100 inmates in Kano seek mercy, review of death sentences

FG shuts KFC outlet that 'humiliated' Gbenga Daniel's wheelchair-bound son

FG shuts KFC outlet that 'humiliated' Gbenga Daniel's wheelchair-bound son

Reps vow to retrieve sold Govt helicopters, summon aviation ministers

Reps vow to retrieve sold Govt helicopters, summon aviation ministers

Distress of abducted Kuriga school children led to successful rescue - DHQ

Distress of abducted Kuriga school children led to successful rescue - DHQ

Reps halt NASU's strike to resolve dispute between FG, universities

Reps halt NASU's strike to resolve dispute between FG, universities

Lagos VIS seizes 50 unroadworthy vehicles in enforcement operation

Lagos VIS seizes 50 unroadworthy vehicles in enforcement operation

Aiyedatiwa sends 12 commissioner nominees to Ondo Assembly for confirmation

Aiyedatiwa sends 12 commissioner nominees to Ondo Assembly for confirmation

Woman saves animal from the streets — then she finds out it is something else

Woman saves animal from the streets — then she finds out it is something else

Alake calls on Badaru to fish out illegal miners, violators of mining laws

Alake calls on Badaru to fish out illegal miners, violators of mining laws

Pulse Sports

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

Nigeria vs Mali: Has Finidi George done enough to land Super Eagles job permanently?

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

I want to emulate Keshi and win the AFCON - Finidi George shares ambitious Super Eagles dream

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

Michelle Alozie: I had to do it because of African referees

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

AC Milan star reveals he was named after Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Give him the job! Super Eagles fans beg NFF to make Finidi George permanent coach after Nigeria's win over Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

Super Eagles 2-1 Black Stars: Nigerians praise Iwobi, Lookman, Finidi George after friendly victory against Ghana

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT