Now that we are ‘Not Too Young To Run’

Unprecedented excitement greeted the passage into law of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday May 31, 2018. The Bill, sponsored by PDP’s Hon. Tony Nwulu, representing Oshodi/Isolo II, Federal Constituency, marked a watershed in Nigeria’s political reformation for the youth demography. The Bill was a campaign borne out […]

Unprecedented excitement greeted the passage into law of the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill by President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday May 31, 2018. The Bill, sponsored by PDP’s Hon. Tony Nwulu, representing Oshodi/Isolo II, Federal Constituency, marked a watershed in Nigeria’s political reformation for the youth demography. The Bill was a campaign borne out of: Age discrimination and advocacy for young people’s inalienable rights to run for elective offices; raise awareness for youth rights and serve as inspiration for young people globally to run for elected offices; much as it is believed that if you are old enough to vote, you are definitely old enough to run for office, as it is a fact that the global population is under 30 years. The Bill, has now reduced the minimum age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35, states assembly 25, while the senators and representatives which was proposed to be 30 was conspicuously left at 35; as against the Nigeria’s 1999 constitution which stipulates that the president has to be at least 40, while senators and governors have to be 35 and above.

Interestingly, the critical issues in relations to Nigeria type politicking is important to examine. First is the readiness of the Nigerian youth which the peculiar polity has been logically unfair to, and is perpetually made to be at the mercy of the egotistic “poli-trick-cians” who manipulate them with the plundered resources of the nation to get into political and electoral offices. The youths have been left to bear the direct brunt of questionable economic policies of the ruling class with mediocre educational system and other sectors lacking current global adaptation and competence hence, producing half-baked and unemployable graduate. Also, the hostile business climate is another reference on the young people of Nigeria; this is a direct reflection of the irony called ‘ease of doing business’ where, as we speak, you will have to cough out blood in a manner of speak to put in place sustainable structure; rent/lease, utility bills, documentations, taxes/rates, approvals to set up any worthy business.

Also, the conspiracy of the present self-seeking ruling class who are never going to leave the political scene for new, vibrant and young breed of politicians and enthusiast with contemporary ideologies in-line with globally accepted and adopted standards of governance. They, as a ritual, will always map out strategies to adopt a sizeable influential rascal and rag-tag youths as political thugs, equipping them with money, influence to power blocs and instruments of states, and dangerous ammunition to becloud their sense of judgment, humaneness, rationality and civility, hence, they become a constant menace and terror to opposition, factions, and the society. However, much as the young Nigerian make attempt to take back power legitimately and deservedly so, if granted, these ‘old foxes’ usually come up with arrangements to on-board their protégées and political stooges too, for these elective positions and political appointments, fund their campaign with looted resource of the country and serves as fronts for them so they are still in charge albeit indirectly to continue their political hegemony whilst having their path of inclusive stealing unstoppable and difficult to probe. A number of these are Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Bukola and Gbemi Saraki, Dimeji Bankola, Sultan Adeniji-Adele, Remi Tinubu, Babajide Obanikoro, Jumoke Akinjide, Folajimi Mohammed, Olumide Osoba, Uche Nwosu, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, etc; not leaving out the notorious political thugs across the country. Obviously, some of the unfortunate ones have been apprehended having being involved in gruesome criminal activities in recent times, and have fingered their political god-fathers out of, and in government.

Despite the odds playing against the young Nigerians chances at governance starting with 2019, it will be swift to test the viability of the chances of the young Nigerian youths with the following question – Which political platform would they be standing election? How would the grassroot be involved in their platforms? Would the young Nigerian demography be ready to support and vote for these new vibrant breed of politicians? Would the generality of the Nigerian masses be ready to change the ‘norm’ in governance structure in Nigeria? These rhetoric, deeply begs the answer to the probable advantage of the young Nigerian population where votes and support will be demographically slanted; where loyalists of the old ruthless politicians will support their own, the youths, young at heart in Nigeria vote for their own, and possibly the elites who hardly come out to vote but, the few who will, probably, would be lining for the youths also; not leaving out voting along gender lines, tribe, religion, profession or social class. These ramifications will of course be grudgingly challenged by the money bags of the recycled politicians who hitherto have amassed more than enough stolen wealth to buy the ‘conscience’ of the ordinary Nigerian who they have spitefully impoverish their psyche and denied inalienable rights and privileges hence, when they bait as little as a few ‘naira-buttered bread’ to make it seem as if they are doing the suffering electorates some form of favour, their votes are secured during elections.

Hilariously though, albeit serious, is the banter of President Muhammadu Buhari, while signing the Bill in company of the promoters of the Bill saying “… You may be president but only after 2019…”, as he is ambitiously seeking reelection. Take this likely with a pinch of salt at your peril, this may turn out to be an unofficial strategical factor that will form an unfair bias in the subconscious of the typical archaic Nigerian electorates who may want to say let us allow APC to finish its two terms then, support the new breed and ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill in 2023. This, possibly, may much be probable.

Now that we are ‘Not Too Young To Run’, the young Nigerian youth must definitely be spurred by the giant strides of the youngest President in the history of France, Emmanuel Macron at 39; Sebastian Kurtz, Chancellor of Austria at 31; Justin Trudeau, Prime minister of Canada at 43; Jacinda Ardem, Prime Minister of New Zealand at 37; Emil Dimitriev, President of Marcedonia at 38; Alvarado Quesanda, at 38 in Costa Rica, et al; and be charged by the heroics of Nigeria’s founding fathers – Tafawa Balewa; Obafemi Awolowo; Nnamdi Azikiwe; Ahmadu Bello; Anthony Enahoro etc ,who attained leadership status in their prime, and take back Nigeria from the threshold of imminent collapse caused by the greedy gerontocrats  in power, return it to the pinnacle of greatness and attain it pride of place in the global committee of nations regardless of the machinations of the old breeds of politicians who as customary are all out to manipulate the 2019 elections like previous electoral processess with our stolen common patrimony. 

 

Nwosu wrote this piece from Lagos.