Nigeria youths deserves transfer of power at all level of authority, even though transfer of power are not won on social media or by mere dreams, but on the political turf and either way by demanding for a Not Too Young to Run.
Let Nigerian youths do something about their destinies now. This is the time for the Nigerian youths to take advantage of their numerical strength and queue behind a candidate that will make a difference in their lives. That is one of the ways they can make progressive change in this country.
In spite youths in Nigeria are not a minority: they represent more than half of populations, but still are left behind in decision-making concerning them. Even though this is important areas of action for every youths in respect of religious and tribe background but It is a Win-Win situations for the youths which must be tackled headlong.
The tasks ahead of Nigeria youth is to be proactive toward making themselves more significant in pursuing their common goal by organizing themselves around positive core values, become ideological in the sense of nationalism and patriotism in their quest for a generational shift in political leadership of the country.
The emergence of youths in positions of power in Nigeria is not new as In those yesteryear’s, the country’s youth took centre stage in the country’s politics like like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Abubakar Tabawa Belewa were 40 respectively. They both began active roles as pioneers of Nigeria’s political leaders. Also even military leaders Ironsi, Gowon, Murtala, Obasanjo, Buhari and IBB were youth when they took over as military Head of States.
So the present generation of Nigeria youths can change decades long problems considering their exposure and educational background as they constitute the larger percentage of the voting population, should not be denied access to elective offices through age restriction. Therefore, country’s Youths should not be treated as a mere launch pad by older generation leaders as their interests are not better understood and served by them.
Nigerians youths has witnessed the wave of emerging youths as leaders across the world where electorate vote youths to change the older generation in the governing. Most of these leaders are under the age of 40, like President of Chile Gabriel Boric born in 1986 elected in 2022, Assimi Goïta Interim President of Mali (since 2021) 1983, Mahamat Déby Interim President of Chad 1984, Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister of New Zealand 1980, Nayib Bukele President of El Salvador 1981 and Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba Transitional President of Burkina Faso (since 2022) 1981.
In 2023 elections, Nigerian youths not only demand their rights to be recognised; but must be allowed to take leadership positions as citizens. It is disgusted to see that older generation leaders are holding tight the rope of power. The current president had once being head of state from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985 and was democratically elected in 2015 till date and President Muhammadu Buhari, born in 1942 and by the time he will hand over to the next elected President he will be 81. Considering the ratio of voters percentage literally, youths are majority that pushes older generation to ascend to power. After all older generation leaders and co-travellers continue relegating them to mere political thugs.
23 years of democratic rule in Nigeria, the youths are still facing lack of greater role in decision making affecting the country as a whole in addition to underrepresentation in polity which has constituted a serious democratic deficit, and also undermines the legitimacy of the contemporary democratic ideal.
Among the contemporary youths in the country since the country returned to the democracy the only youth was able to break the jinx of older peoples monopoly to power in the country is Governor of Kogi state. This has been achieved by Yahaya Bello through doggedness and determination. He assumed the mettle ship of the state in spite of certain interest within and outside that attempted to deny him the chance of governing the state because the state politics always going hand in hand with ethnicity politic where tribal strengths always play great role on who becomes what.
In spite the financial crisis, his administration has invested heavily in Kogi state internal security and has demonstrated strong capacity in neutralize crimes and criminals in his State. Even though, most Nigerians probably do not know this, but Kogi state went from being the state where violent crime was most endemic period to 2015 to become one of the safest states in Nigeria till date. State’s crime rate has been one of the lowest in the country for years where Terrorism, kidnapping and banditry have no safe haven in the state.
Definitely, If electorate votes him as the President, he will not tolerate any kind of crime which has caused serious uncertainty to citizens as he believes that crimes are inexcusable to his administration. Whatever the case, politics is a game of numbers with common efforts by the youths, generation change of leadership is achievable being youths are in the majority.
In view of this there is no more excuse from nation’s youths that older generation should hold power tight and are not ready to step down, if agitation does not match with action, the younger generation will remain onlookers as youths, fathers and grandfathers will continue to reinvent and resurface at the seat of power therefore Nigeria youths must make concerted effort to change the narration.
2023 general election will be like maintaining the change and change the change. For the youths of the country’s the coming election is simple. It is a choice between going forward and backward, between the new ways and old ways; between a record of visible achievements and beneficial reforms and empty promises.
Since the choice before youths is about new ways and old ways with visible achievements and beneficial reforms and empty promises, a leading youth presidential aspirant Governor Yahaya Bello (GYB) has in-depth understanding of the contemporary problems of Nigeria and his ideas can build solid bridges leading country into the future with sound economic development.
When GYB declared his intention to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 General Election, tasks Nigeria youths to be proactive toward making themselves more significant and pursuing their common goal by organize themselves around positive core values, become ideological in the sense of nationalism and patriotism in their quest for a generational shift in political leadership of the country.
As expected, 2023 election is likely going to be a bit different from the past elections as the electorates have suffered several disappointments from politicians and are daily weighed down by the burden of insecurity and economic hardship, especially in recent times, country security apparatus are not on top of the situation because each passing day citizens are either maimed or killed by armed bandits in manners that could only be described as brazen.
