For NOT-TOO-YOUNG-TO-RUN Campaign

At the age of 32, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, assumed the mantle of leadership and became Nigeria’s leader in 1967. A time it was when the legendary Zik of Africa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, at the youthful age of 44, became Nigeria’s first ceremonial president. The memories of the iconic General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, who was murdered in a bloody coup, shall remain green in our hearts. It was at the graceful age of 37 that providence foisted on his shoulders daunting leadership responsibilities.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, erstwhile civilian president, first piloted the Nigerian ship as Head of State while a youth. In 1976 when he succeeded the late Muhammed, he was barely 39.

There are still some precedents. President Muhammadu Buhari also belongs to the league of eminent personalities who became Nigeria’s leader in their youthful age. In 1983, the 41- year-old Daura-born became the Commander- in-Chief of the armed forces after toppling the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

Suffice to say that it was after the Buhari/Idiagbon junta was dethroned that General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida came into national reckoning at 44. No doubt, they (the aforementioned) all emerged as Nigerian leaders—at different points—through military fiat. When I checked last, most of the celebrated nationalists who stoically campaigned and fought for the country’s sovereignty were youths in their 30s and early 40s.

There abounds Nigerian youths who have, and are still making waves, in notable fields of human endevours. Back here in the country, just like across the globe, sensational accounts of extraordinary accomplishments by our youths are many. I will prefer not to chronicle the enviable feats and sterling successes recorded by young, enterprising, resilient, talented and innovative Nigerians in sports, education, business, sciences, literature, ICT and music, to mention a few.

Sadly, the narrative about Nigerian youths in politics or democratic governance—since 1999—is everything but gratifying. Our youths—who desire to be lucky as the Gowons, Murtalas, and Obasanjos of the 70s—wish they are (at the moment) privileged as other global youth leaders. At informal social gatherings, they dissipate their boundless energies discussing how the suave-looking and 39 years old Emmanuel Macron (now 40), became French president in May 2017. They marveled at the reality of a then 31 years old Sebastian Kurz emerging as Austria’s Chancellor. It had also baffled them, as to how Emil Dimitriev, born in March 1979, is presently the acting Prime Minister (PM) of Macedonia. It also beggars their belief that the punk hair-styled Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s supreme leader is still in his mid-30s; while Justin Trudeau was only 43 when he was sworn-in as Canada’s Prime Minister three years ago.

To address the political marginalisation of Nigerian youths, the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign, a social movement by a group of youths, aimed at widening the political space for young, charismatic and visionary minds, was birthed last year. Though, an advocacy bill, but perhaps its principle resonated with Mr. President’s reformative mantra of ‘Change’. Thereafter, the bill became a recipient of a deserving presidential assent from PMB at a colourful event in the Villa.

This time around, it was so-much hoped that several young Nigerians will throw their hats in the political ring, with the eligibility age for presidential aspirants now lowered to 35 from 40; that of governorship hopefuls and aspiring federal lawmakers pegged at 30 and not 35 any longer; while that of State House of Assembly contestants cut down to 25, instead of 30 years.

Indeed, the euphoria that greeted the historic assent was indescribable. But it will soon be short-lived. Fast forward to 2018; eve of next year’s general election, and the prospects of greater political fortunes hitherto envisaged for the youths became a mirage. The commencement of Expression of Interests (EOI) and Nomination Forms’ sale by the dominant political parties (namely APC and PDP), were greeted with utter indignation. Nigerians of sincere goodwill, in their unison, lampooned the behemoth parties.

Their exclusionary and repulsive nomination fees, they maintained had disenfranchised many competent youths from vying for elective positions. The youths whose eyes were fixated on 2019, consequently perished their lofty ambitions, owing to lack of huge war chest.