#NotTooYoungToRun and the rest of us

One of the concept of the “#NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN” Project is to encourage young people in Nigeria to take over the various political leadership roles in the country through a robust and effective electoral processes and stop complaining about accidental leaders.

There is no doubt our current democratic processes are expensive for young Nigerians to participate but then they should not be discouraged to seek for political leadership through a democratic process.

However, it was also discovered that some of these young Nigerians sell their chances either through monetary inducement or political bargain even if they are imminently qualified and eligible. This act should be discouraged and stopped especially during electioneering.

In recent time, we have had few young leaders that have failed in one way or the other in their cause of steering state affairs in political positions; it should not be a yardstick for measuring leadership acumen of the young people in Nigeria.

For the purpose of this piece and to encourage some of the young people in Nigeria that are currently making us proud in either the political or business arena, I want to center this piece on prominent young Nigerians across the 36 states of Nigeria that are doing very well and to appeal to them to seek for leadership and elective positions in order to add value to humanity.

As young Nigerian, I have traversed through the length and breadth of this country. The aim of these trips are to actualize the concept of our project, “#NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN “it also afforded me the opportunity to identify some young Nigerians who are doing well in their private lives and have capacity to change the face of our political system.

In continuation of these trips, we visited Katsina State, because of its peculiarities, this is a state that had produced three Nigerian leaders and one vice president, while Late Umaru Yar adua was elected as a civilian president, General Buhari was both Military Head of state and currently a civilian president. General Shehu Yar’adua was Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, equivalent to civilian Vice president. It may interest us to know General Shehu Yar’adua attained that position at the age of 36. Katsina has also produced a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, 2 Presidents of Court of Appeal, 2 Directors General of National Intelligence Agency, 2 Directors General of SSS and Inspector General of Police, all these people occupied the positions during their younger years. These feats spurred us to visit the state if the younger ones are inspired or encouraged to run for political office. I must first and foremost commend the visionary leader, Governor of Katsina State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari for not only mentoring young people in his state but for providing them with an enabling environment and political platform to showcase their talents and what they can do for the people of Katsina State, apart from Kogi State, Katsina is the only state that has given over 10 young people an opportunity to serve in the current administration namely Abubakar Sada Ilu as Commissioner of Land and Survey, Mustapha Kanti Bello as Commissioner Solid Minerals, Ibrahim Zakari as the Special Adviser on International Relations and Investments and host of others. For that singular honour, Governor Masari need to be commended not condemned for always having young people at heart.

Honestly, God has blessed Katsina with many young men but there is one young man called Ibrahim Zakari that cannot be ignored, for the first time I heard his name last December when I visited Katsina State, I understand and confirmed his appointment is honorary which means He enjoys no Financial reward of whatsoever like salary, car, house, Office running cost from the state Government. He is currently the Honorary Special Adviser (SA) to the Government of the Katsina State on international relations and investments. As we are all aware, people go into politics to make money in Nigeria but for this young Ibrahim is an exception. He has used his contacts and attracted a lot of investments to Katsina state.

Ibrahim Kabiru Dallah is Leader of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Abuja.