Youth short-changed by Change Agenda?

If there is one Nigerian trait that the British (our former colonial masters) find hard to fathom, it’s the manner in which we express respect for elders.  It’s not that the British don’t respect their elders, it’s just that their respect is manifested far more appropriately and meaningfully.  In Nigeria respect for elders is “eye […]

If there is one Nigerian trait that the British (our former colonial masters) find hard to fathom, it’s the manner in which we express respect for elders.  It’s not that the British don’t respect their elders, it’s just that their respect is manifested far more appropriately and meaningfully.  In Nigeria respect for elders is “eye service” which means greeting them respectfully, kneeling down before them and keeping quiet when they talk, while at the same time leaving them to suffer the hardships of old age without assistance. The British have a different approach. Forsaking “eye” and “lip” service they take practical steps ensure that the lives of aged citizens are made easier so they may enjoy the twilight of their lives. In Britain pensioners receive their payments promptly and also enjoy free medical services, free transport services and discounted prices on a range of essential goods and services.
The Nigerian approach to respect of elders is based on our belief that age begets wisdom and dignity therefore old people must be wise and principled. This is patently untrue. In reality if a man has been a fool all his life and he survives to be old, he doesn’t suddenly become wise, he simply becomes an old fool!  Proof of this assertion is found amongst the high-profile names of those who handled “Dasukigate” cash. Their average age is well over 70 years. Most of them have spent a lifetime retarding the progress of our nation and should be quietly resting at home awaiting their call to glory.
Oblivious to the debilitating impact their participation in high level corruption practices has had on the nation, their continued foolishness is demonstrated by the highly offensive manner in which they attempt to defend their indefensible actions rather than show remorse and bury their heads in shame. The real reason treasury looting remains unabated in spite of the establishment of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) in 2000 and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2004 is because our “elder statesmen” regard unprincipled and unethical behaviour as normal. Virtually all of them have been indicted by the EFCC. Although indictment doesn’t mean guilt, the fact remains that as a group, they are a national disgrace.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan under whom corruption reached proportions never before witnessed before in our sordid history, once famously said that corruption was not the biggest challenge facing our nation. He was right. Our biggest challenge is how to stop weak, naïve, unprincipled and clueless people like himself from accessing high political office. Unfortunately even the coming of President Muhammad Buhari (PMB) hasn’t slowed down the penchant for sleaze and unearned wealth.   Despite adding no value to our lives the old men in the Senate plan to reward themselves with new Land Cruiser Jeeps costing over 4.7 Billion naira.
The Senate is increasingly becoming a refuge for corrupt former Governors apparently not finished with parasitically living of the nation despite enjoying self-granted pensions for life. The growing support for abolition of the upper chamber is based upon their continued treasury looting activities. As if this isn’t bad enough the House of Representatives wants to follow suit, and State Governors continue to reward themselves with inappropriately massive salaries and expense accounts, pensions for life and illegal “security votes”.
Apart from PMB himself whose abhorrence of corrupt practices is legendary, there is nothing to suggest that even while the anti-corruption agencies struggle to clear up the old mess left behind, corrupt practices are still not being perpetrated by “elders”. It’s ironic that our oldest ever president is the one who demystified old age. Undoubtedly PMB won the hearts and minds of our youth by his doggedness and principled stands. However he has undeniably let them down so far. Despite the fact that practically every successful area of the economy from entertainment to telecoms and banking, is being driven by youth, he has side-lined them in his administration.
Even though they own the future, youths are restricted in their ability to influence it. They are prevented from impacting in the political arena in which the lives of the generality of people could be improved. PMB should realise that he has a limited time to leave a lasting legacy. When he departs the stage he must leave the nation in the hands of its vibrant youth. It’s clear that political “elders” have nothing to offer.
We are already paying the price for their lack of ethics, morality, patriotism and concern for the welfare of others, and we will pay an even higher price in future if they are not finally consigned to the dustbin of history. Should they continue to pollute the political space after PMB has left office then in all truth fullness the youth who own the future would definitely have been short-changed by the change-agenda.