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NIGERIAN YOUTH AND POLITICS.
Nigeria, like every other country, was founded on an idea that is humane, pure, and people oriented. Her
independence was fought by men and women who possessed a truly united spirit. The Nationalists,
having lived in various independent countries and seen what it meant to live in a free society, forfeited
their enjoyment and comfort of living in those countries just to make their country independent. Their
zeal was unanimous. They spared no effort in the struggles for the independence. Eventually, they got it
without losing a drop of blood. They had good plans, built on great aspirations and hope. But barely
sixty years afterwards, the hopes and aspirations of those founding fathers has faded away. The country
is now totally different from the expectations of the people. But while the leaders and followers of our
modelled countries such as America and Britain keep learning from their mistakes and improving on
their good deeds to create a better society, our leaders and followers had been busy engaging in blaming
each party. The leaders with their woes and the followers with theirs give birth to all the problems we
are now facing in the country. Many blame the problems on the side of the leaders, but this is reality,
and we cannot jettison the fact when discussing reality. Nigeria's problem is not only that of leadership,
but also that of followership. A deeper look might reveal followership as the fundamental cause. This is
because all those that are in positions of leadership today were followers yesterday; if they were good
followers, nothing would stop them from becoming good leaders. Since they were not good followers,
the 'not good 'in their character follows them to the leadership positions. So, to get it right, we the
followers have to work hard on ourselves, for it is from among the followers the leaders come. In
another sense, that might sound as if I place a blame on the followers. But that is not my intended
purpose. I want to balance the causes of our deplorable state of everything in the country so as to come
up with measures that are responsive to the challenges. If we pour the guilt on one side, the other side
feels innocent. Once that, no matter the measure taken by that blamed side, the problems will persist. It
is just that the leaders, for being in control of the institutions of power, they contibute more in causing
the problems by their influence. Right now, there are unresolved issues by the leaders of the day before
yesterday, there are unresolved issues by yesterday crop of leaders, there are springing issues that are
going unresolved by the present day leaders, and it would be the height of naivety to believe issues will
not arise tomorrow. Some of the elementary problems include politics without principle; adulteration of
religious doctrines; breakdown in our social norms; lack of respect for constituted authorities;
disobedience of the law, even by the lawmakers; extreme inclination to tribe, religion, and region;
youthful unrest, among others. These problems are the foundations of injustice, corruption, lawlessness,
inequality, pseudo democracy, fedelism that is on false construe, denial of the functions enshrined in the
purpose establishing civil society organizations and opposition parties, denial of human rights to
freedom of choice during elections; which have consequences of different complexities such as lack of
development, stunted economy, lack of infrastructural and social security, arm robbery, cyber crimes,
prostitution, human trafficking, jungle justice, Child Abuse, kidnapping, oil bunkering, vandalism,
Rebellion, and others. All these issues are at the forefront in Nigeria today. The question of how to build
a good nation is common in the mouths of many but the answers appear too difficult to provide. We
need to have a country that her image will be respected in the comity of nations. Nigeria needs to take
her uncompetitive position as a leading country in Africa. Most fingers are being pointed to the youth.
The task is dropped on the youth to shoulder. They are seen as the panaceas to the errors, the solutions to
the problems, and vanguard of the new dawn. No doubt, Nigerian youth possess the potential to turn
things around. The youth are simultaneously eager to do it no matter the difficulty involved. Youthful

age is the most difficult stage in the life cycle of a human being: whatever decisions that are taken at it
design the kind of life that will be lived at retirement age. That extends to national issues. The future
hangs on the decisions and actions taken by today's youth, good or bad.
The call on the lips of many is that of a revolution. But I beg to differ in my opinion. A revolution is
not what we need. A revolution occurred in Libya and there are still elements of political instability
there. If it happens in Nigeria where there are mature feelings of dissatisfaction fully operational in the
minds of the people, there might arise several Springs, too much for the security agencies to contain.
Another example of a failed revolution is that of Zimbabwe, because it does not yield much desired
results. The people clamoured for a revolution but it is obvious it came when they had no plans to
consolidate its gains. The revolutionary leaders made two big mistakes : One, for a country that has been
ruled for decades by a democrat that was more or less a dictator, there are certainly going to be laws and
policies that are dictatorial in nature. Such laws and policies ought to have been changed before
surrendering the power to a civilian Government ___for changing those laws and policies in a
democratic setting is more difficult. The second mistake made was the handing over of power to
Immerson Mnangagwe. As one who had worked with Robert Mugabe and oversaw all the atrocities he
committed, it would not be out of way to say he is an extension of Robert Mugabe. His being a member
of the infamous ZUNU PF further makes the revolution appear in name, not in substance. Their last
presidential election brought to the streets of Harare a reminiscence of the type of elections they used to
have under the brutality of Mugabe regime.
In my abhorrence of a revolution, I take a balanced stand for an evolution. I am for that which takes
gradual steps steadily and pauses at nowhere till desired results are achieved. The transformation of
these affairs in Nigeria now neither call for quick results nor haphazard steps. The issues are deeply
rooted hence the measures to be taken must start from the roots. Now that the youth, in recognition of
the great task ahead, have responded positively by the idea inherent in the NOT TOO YOUNG TO
RULE policy, it is about time to spread its potential importance to every nook and cranny of the country.
Good enough, the policy now enjoys local and international recognition. Though the policy seems to
have its weight on taking over of power by the youth, I hereby humbly advise that the importance of the
policy should not be limited to that shallow aim. While I believe that a youth could be President,
Governor, Minister, and so on, I strongly doubt that by a leader being a youth, positive results will begin
to be seen by the people in the domain being led by the leader. This is because the political will to
govern credibly is not determined by age or gender. It requires a certain level of exposure, having good
education, the ability to be well-informed, possessing a sense of wisdom and maturity, and a wealth of
experience. So, in any form of leadership, if a sense of wisdom, maturity, and wealth of experience are
not applied rightly, age becomes the victim. If the leader is young, the criticism becomes ' he is too
young to rule.' Or if the leader is old, one gets to hear ' he is too old to rule.' I think age does matter but
not ultimately. In fact, most of the problems of leadership in the country are not peculiar to the aged; the
youth also have their fare share. Besides, even if a youth becomes a leader and these fully grown issues
still linger, they will post great difficulty in steering the wheels of power, and results will not be
achieved. These problems are not sympathetic to the youth. They have the tendency of making any
country ungovernable by a leader who is at any age.
Therefore, the way out of all these problems and sundry is by regular extensive public lectures. At
public lectures, people will be educated on various things. The common complain in the streets today is
that the youth have not been given the chance. I totally disagree with that. In my opinion, it is the youth
that have not been taking their chances, not that they have not been giving any chance. But what gives
birth to this surface complaint is lack of understanding of how to take the chance. So, I would like to

plead with the conveners of these ever-important policy to carry it in form of a movement with special
ascent on public lectures. The general public needs to be informed of so many lapses in the polity.
Consider some other problems___ militancy in the Niger Delta, insurgency in the Northeast, herdsmen
attacks in the North Central and Southwest, cattle rustling in the Northwest, Biafran agitations in the
Southeast. None of these problems should be seen as a regional problem. The reason they occur at such
places is because they have to occur somewhere. There is a serious need to redefine our perspective of
the Nigerian project. Let there be a massive self-discipline revival outreach, reawakening the
consciousness of the people to always embrace the most optimal way to react even under strong
emotional pressure. Let us question the premises where life is more vulnerable in the country than
anywhere else in spite of the fact that we have little to no natural disaster. The politicians should be
made to know that security is neither guaranteed by tall fences round houses nor security detail, but by
the humanitarian service renders to those outside the confine of the walls of one's house. The question
'why many build mansions, install security cameras at strategic angles, fill the gate with a number of
security agents, yet they feel too far from being safe?' begs for answer. Ill-gotten wealth creates the kind
of enmity that results in actions that surpass the collective intelligence of any security personnels. People
should be educated on how to channel grievances to avoid having it manipulated by unholy figures in
the society. The power of the people is more powerful than the power of those in power. But how can
the people harness that power to call their elected officials to order when the need arises? Only a public
lecture can make the people recognize this great power which they possess, and how to use it as a strong
bargaining tool for good representation. Together, we will narrate how the world should define us.
Everyone needs to understand that being too quick to post pictures showcasing evidence of issues in the
country only put us in the world bad class. That only have the negative effects of how the world would
treat us. It tells the world to approach us with little respect, because we ourselves set it on the pedestal to
denigrate all that promote our human dignity. A focus on public lectures will see people being
enlightened on various topics of national importance. In today's Nigeria, factors that divide us are more
and stronger than the factors that unite us. We are divided along the lines of religion, tribe, language,
political party, region, culture, and so on. These divisions have special positions in our politics. They
form the basis for those to entrust our instruments of authority. They serve as major guidelines in
determining who to elect into public office, those to be admitted into institutions of higher learning, and
even determine which course or job to offer which applicant. At public lectures, people will be educated
on how to reduce the level of their inclination to these concepts in the national interest. In the area of
religiosity, tribalism, and language segregation, people need to know that religion is a set of beliefs that
are to guide one to spirituality, tribe is an identity marker, and language is a tool of communication;
none should be an instrument of exclusion, subjugation, dominion or oppression. They are for us to
know, understand, and tolerate one another for a peaceful coexistence. Any attempt to use any of them
otherwise is an abuse. Even the spate of killings in some parts of the country for whatsoever reason,
everyone should know that no one creates either a bright future for his children or secure his retirement
age by hurting or harming others. The brightness of the future lies in the healthy relationships
established and good neighbourliness kept. Our independence was fought and won without firing a
gunshot, so also, peace can be achieved without sending anyone to their early grave. The flags of guns
and bullets should be pulled down completely and flags of dialogue raised to fly for eternity.
Structurally, these public lectures are not going be in cities alone: they are going to be carried out in
every town and hamlet. It is not going to be in one section or sector, but all sections and sectors. The
educational institutions, traditional institutions, the military, the Police, Para military agencies, civil
society organizations, community organizations, Regional organizations, Non Governmental

Organizations, religious organizations, financial institutions, political institutions, the movie industry,
the music industry, fashion industry, Sports industry, judicial branch, health sector, the media sector,
transport sector, ministries, agencies, departments, Expatriates, Artisans in various fields, and all other
fields of human endeavor will go along. Heads of these institutions, ministries, and agencies are going to
be lured into accepting the idea of the movement and spearhead organizing the lectures within their
institutions. Nigerians in the diaspora who embody the optimism of a prosperous brighter Nigeria will be
asked to form the movement in their respective dwelling countries. By the time a meeting point is
reached, the political, religious, social, economic images of Nigeria would have been changed. Those
who used to find mocking everything about Nigeria blissful would be put to shame by the new image.
Churches, mosques, hotels, market squares, village squares, palaces, ministries halls, school halls,
stadia, football fields, car parks and so on should be used as venues for the lectures. The movement
should have bulletins that carry its objectives. Its mission and vision statements should be well spelt out
in in the bulletin, and should be read in every lecture. Members of the movement should see it as a duty
to share about the movement where the duty calls. In rural areas, the movement should make use of
interpreters in disseminating their information. It is not going to be an anti government idea, but an
advocacy of due process be strictly adhered to wherever they are established. People will not be spurred
to rise against the government, but to wake up to their responsibilities. Everyone will be made to know
the position they occupy in the society, the roles to play, and how to play the roles effectively.
Sanitization of the nature of politics being played should be one of the objectives of the movement.
Targeting the politics is an important priority, since any leakage in politics usually have implications on
the politics itself, religion, economy, and all other sectors.
But amidst that all, the youth themselves should realize that the movement is correctly going to be
judged by the public as dragging the aged before the equity, and he who goes to the equity must go with
clean hands. The hands of the youth are not clean. If the youth shun cyber crimes, vandalism, cultism,
arm robbery, prostitution, kidnapping, jungle justice, oil bunkering, unnecessary competition,
examination malpractice which is an embryo of corruption, members of the public will be encouraged to
join the movement. Everyone will believe their readiness to govern credibly. People will take seriously
the sincerity of their commitment in inculcating the mission and vision of the movement. If the youth
eradicate their extreme loyalty to unholy politicians which see them seizing electoral materials, elections
rigging, and participation in all forms of electoral malpractices, these politicians will be forced to do the
right thing all the time. The political class suddenly turn their back on the people upon taking their
office. When elections come, they beat protocols to ensure they retain their positions. To make that
work, they engage thugs who are the youth. So, if they call for the discharge of those wicked acts and
meet standing resistance from these their once thugs owing to the ideals of the movement, they will be
forced to change their attitudes thereby prioritize the needs of the people. That then is the taking of the
chance the youth complain of not given. The taking of the chances should not be narrowly seen in
occupying leadership positions, but in being followers but influencing the decision-making and taking of
actions by the political class. In all, the underlying purpose of the movement is to change the political
culture in the country, to champion the cause of attitudinal change inside out. A deadline which runs
through at least a decade should be set within which to achieve the objectives.
Measurement of the success of the movement will be seen in the resistance of the youth to all vices in
the society. When there is an election and the youth conduct themselves maturely, shunning all kinds of
electoral malpractices, success is being recorded. If there arises a commotion somewhere and people's
reactions do not gratify the cravings of impulse, success is seen. When the choice of those to represent
the people in government is not guided by religion, tribe or ethnicity, success is achieved. When

thuggery is eliminated, the movement is accelerating to exceeding height. When examinations are no
longer cancelled on ground of malpractice, the new and welcoming dawn is taking a definite shape.
By a decade of intensified lectures and increasing records of success to an excellent level, the
movement will then be transformed into a political party, while maintaining the embedded characteristic
of organizing public lectures. One of the manifestos of the party will have an objective of removing the
sharing of money or materials during election campaigns. The party will implore the government of the
day to overhaul the electoral acts for the success of this manifesto. People will be encouraged to come
together with the common goal of eliminating the influence of money or material things and the
powerful grip it has got in our politics. This particularly will help in curbing corruption. By that, the cost
of contesting in an election will be reduced. Candidates will not have to look for sponsors when running
for any office. The activities of political investors__those who sponsor candidates in elections to reap in
hundred folds when the candidates win__will be cut off. Couple with the level of maturity of the public
at elections as enhanced by the lectures of the movement, election of candidates will depend on their
level of character and competence, not on the sizes and depth of their pockets. Another manifesto of the
party is eradication of streets rallies during campaign. Streets rallies are often characterize by violence
that result in injuries or even death. Political campaigns are going to be in form of public lectures,
organize peacefull. For one contesting for President, they have thirty-seven public lectures to give: one
in each state of the federation and one in the federal capital territory. Candidates should be at the
lectures in person. As for those contesting for governorship seats, they have public lectures according to
the number of local government in their state. The same applies to those contesting for Senate, House of
representatives, House of Assembly, local government chair, councillorship. It will have other
manifestos that are on national development, growth of the economy, fight against corruption, and
improvement in the security sector. All policies and programmes will be people-oriented.
The idea of NOT TOO YOUNG TO RULE has come to live forever among the inhabitants of
Nigeria. I pour out my heartfelt commendations to those that brought this wonderful initiative. I respect
the depth of their excellent creative thinking skills and honour the broadness of their extraordinary
imaginations. Their problem-solving skills are amazing. They have not only created hope but have
inspired the hope. By releasing this from the reservoir of their knowledge, they show the level of believe
they have in the possibilities of Nigeria. Their invaluable contribution to nation-building is giving
deserving recognition; purpose, duely appreciated. They have moulded a highly architectural shape of
my pride in being part of their generation. They have earned a solid space in the history of politics in
Nigeria. Generations will come to learn about their vision, then get stirred up to build on it. It might
interest them all to know that the policy might have culminated from one person's idea, but now it is a
national idea. The fire of its overwhelming support is beyond the extinguishment of any proselytize. It
captures and embodies the burning desire of the majority of the populace. This their response to
national duty came when the teaming youth are at the crossroad, and it now points the right direction to
follow. It has lasting features. The initiators responded to the voice of destiny; so also, many will be
called by destiny to meet special share of sustaining the success recorded so far. A destiny's call,
irrespective of the challenges involved, is a call that, if answered correctly and at the right time, takes
one to a sublime seat in the field of honour. In this historic campaign, the enormity of the task will
certainly be very challenging, but it will be very dishonourable to ignore the task owing to the challenge
of carrying it as it should. With requisite sacrifices, greater generations of Nigeria shall be raised and
equipped with leadership qualities that will enable the building of a Nation that will find expressions in
the aspirations and dreams of the Nationalists. Since every good thing that emanates from Nigeria in any
field of discipline always has its sound resonating all over Africa, I have no doubt whatsoever that the

ain of this idea will expand through Africa; its water will wash even the toughest stains in African
politics. By so doing, African youth will be brought under one umbrella. Then, the perspective of the
rest of the world on Africa and Africans will be changed. Africans will begin to take giant strides that
will recover the accruing human dignity long lost in the most shameful human indecency of slave trades
and colonization. Many will be spurred to join in the journey that will see the continent of Africa totally
liberated from all forms of imperialism, which wears different kinds of masks: the masks will be
unravelled so as to expose its devastating significance.
Long live, the Federal Republic Of Nigeria!
Long live, Not Too Young To Rule!
MWAHOSS PETER PAM
(A concerned citizen)