Still on Generation X come 2019
The first shot in the duel on who succeeds or challenges a leader normally commences on the day they take the oath of office, especially elected officials. It will be hypocritical for anyone to say that no Nigerian is eyeing the country’s top job or ready to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. The body […]
The first shot in the duel on who succeeds or challenges a leader normally commences on the day they take the oath of office, especially elected officials. It will be hypocritical for anyone to say that no Nigerian is eyeing the country’s top job or ready to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. The body language of politicians in both the ruling party APC and the opposition PDP is a clear testimony that they are ready to throw their hats into the ring. By 2019, even if the incumbent president chooses to contest, he will be a few months to celebrate his 77th birthday.
But one honest fact we must not shy from is even If PMB chooses to contest, that shouldn’t be a raison d’être to those whose generation Malam El-Rufai regarded as his in 2006 i.e. Generation X (1961-1981) to give a shot to the nation’s top job irrespective of the political platform they choose to contest from. In 2019, it will be interesting to see Nigerians who are of Generation X and have distinguished themselves in the past and present offices they occupy to be courageous enough to throw their hats into the ring for the country’s top job.
In Nigeria today, it is an undeniable fact that Generation Xers are the highly-educated generation. In general, they are the best educated, most connected generation, hardworking, technologically astute, most informed generation, authority, entrepreneurial, ethnically diverse and individualistic. It’s very unfortunate that too many of our political leaders are putting party before country, power before principle and cynicism before civility. The common purpose that created this great nation which has united us in difficult moments has gone missing.
Our country is in desperate need of servant leaders, of men and women willing to kneel and embrace those who are not like them. Every member of Generation X seeking the presidency must profess great love for our nation, not a tribal, religion or regional chauvinist. The candidates should also offer us grand promises about new leadership and new solutions. Our country deserves a leader that is courageous enough to select competent members of other political parties for leadership positions.
Regardless of who wins the presidency, all we want is to turn the nation around. Our country deserves a president humble enough to see leadership not as an entitlement but as a privilege. We cannot afford more false promises, slogans, theatrics and fools’ gold. Our nation has been profoundly damaged by a lack of civility, direction, tolerance and courage.
In other to see the transition of the nation’s leadership to a person of Generation X, all the political parties should adopt the age criteria as once stated by Mal. El-Rufai in 2006 to enable Nigerians born from 1961 to date to contest for the office of president and governor in their respective states irrespective of political parties in 2019. The collaboration of leadership between the Generations X and the Millenial’s would form an enduring partnership in leadership and administrative roles as this would turn out to be the most fulfilling and worthwhile teamwork of their lives. This will lead to the automatic phase out of the “Silent Generation and Baby Boomers Generations” from the power and leadership struggle in Nigeria between the aging and younger generations.
Yahaya wrote from Muye, Niger State.