Nigerian Youths Call for End to Poorly Educated Leaders
List criteria for next president
The Nigerian Youths have called for an end to poorly educated leaders in the country, saying ‘lowly educated’ leaders without exposure, both past and present, are embarrassment to the country especially in 21st century.
The group also said the country needs a digital leader at this ‘digital age’, adding as concerned Nigerians, they have taken it upon themselves to list the criteria of the kind of leader that Nigeria needs presently.
The National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Robert Chenge, stated this at a press conference in Abuja weekend.
He said his group would mobilise the youths and women who constitute 80 per cent of the Nigerian voting population in the coming election.
According to him, “The Nigerian constitution has set the educational qualification to be a Nigerian president at Diploma level and not a university degree. In the modern and complex 21st century world we live in today, we the youths look for advanced leadership.
“Many of our past and present leaders are an embarrassment to the country due to their very low educational background and lack of exposure. We have raised the bar above the minimum requirement in the constitution for an effective 21st century Nigerian president.”
Listing the criteria for the new leadership positions in the coming election, the coordinator of the group stated that they could only support the next president who must demonstrate the ability to lead Nigeria from its present economic level of premodernity to hypermodernity; must have both executive and legislative experience and one who has mentored youths.
The group also stated that the next president must have deep understanding of the concept of leadership through writings or practice coupled with strong family values with a healthy lifestyle.
It also insisted that the next Nigerian president should have a diplomatic experience and be able to demonstrate unusual courage in challenging public corruption and poor performance.
Accompanied by other youth leaders from different states, including Mazi Jideofor Umeh, President of New Owerri Youth Organisation; Joseph Torkwase Boager of Nigerian Youth Front; and Femi Coker of Think Tank leaders and others, Chenge added that Nigerian youths would no longer be passive when it comes to election issues, as wrong choice will spell doom for the country.
He also said government’s reactions to the current killings in country goes to show that Nigeria is a dying state and it must not be allowed to happen.
They called on Professor Hagher Iyorwuese to contest the presidential election.
The group further added: “Twelve months from today, Nigerians will be electing a new president. A wrong choice could spell doom. A right choice will be our victory and celebration.
“We the youths of Nigeria have decided that enough is enough and we are no longer going to be passive observers in a country whose leadership has failed to usher in development. We are no longer tolerant of the culture of silence when Nigeria is facing the wrong direction and almost all Nigerians are losing hope.”