Adeyeri blasts proponents of ‘not too young to run’
*Youths lament exclusion by political parties
FOUNDER of Flobal Trust Limited, Mr. Abayomi Adeyeri, has described the ‘not too young to run’ campaign as a misplaced priority for Nigerian youths. Adeyeri said this during his 50th birthday celebration and presentation of his book, in Akure, Ondo State.
He disagreed with the clamour that the young ones should be afforded the opportunity to rule, arguing that the country has not developed to that level.
“Unfortunately, we have not reached the stage in Nigeria where the young ones can begin to play politics and compete effectively with those older generation.
“The reason is not farfetched; the young ones don’t have the capacity in terms of structures and the money to run a successful campaign. Therefore, how do you want them to succeed?” the banker said.
Meanwhile, young Nigerians who declared interest in politics have lamented the lack of support from their political parties to run for offices in 2019.
Despite the recent campaign from young people, the chances of them joining the country’s policy-makers appear very thin.
Award-winning public speaker, Dayo Israel, one of the strong voices behind the campaign for the reduction of age qualification to enable younger political aspirants run for offices, at the Young Achievers’ annual conference recently, said that Nigerian youths were willing to get involved in politics, but were being sidelined by their political platforms. Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Enugu State, where the school’s famous ‘ Den of Lions and Lionesses’ brainstormed on the fate of the country.
Presenting one of the key papers, the vice chancellor of Coal City University, Enugu, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, declared that African traditional religion, with its ethos of communality and good human relations, could restore peace and respect to Nigeria.
“The indigenous African religion and culture is not only a caring step mother, but also a kind that caters for all visitors and strangers in the land,” he added.
He lamented that the foreign religions had failed to unite peoples of all cultures, classes and ideologies.
“I endorse the centrality of the religious factor in any future progressive reorganisation of Nigeria – and I do not mean the inclusion of any of the major foreign religions like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. I mean that the African traditional religion is the only one that can nurture the needed peace. It is the religion that respects the freedom of worship and does not impose itself on anyone,” he added.