Some time in september 2012, Proscovia Alengot Oromait , a 19 year old girl from eastern uganda was elected as a representative in the Ugandan parliament.
Though she was young,inexperience and only had a school certificate, but one thing is certain about her, she is responsible and ready to take her destiny in her own hands.
In Uganda, around 50% of the population is below the age of 15.
Oromait insists in an interview that despite her age, she is up to the task and voters in her district believe in her.
‘’It’s not age that works, it’s the brain and the knowledge that one has to fight for the constituency’’. I believe I can fight for the people in my constituency, and the sole reason as to why they voted for me is because they knew I’m capable of doing what they want. She said.
At first, when other candidates are underrating her, she was busy concentrating on her campaign. When they later realized how strong she could be despite her young age, other candidates begin to use her inexperience and young age against her in their campaigns. But you know what, she didn’t mind her critics, she was busy speaking directly to the concerned people and they understood her language as she does theirs. Its mutual understanding.
At the end of the election, the votes of the old men and women didn’t count much. The voice of the godfathers were also silent. The 19 year old girl not only won the election convincingly, but the voices and votes of the back born of every nation (youths) were the one’s that made the difference.
This is why I have always said, if the youths are ready to take the lead and act responsibly, there is nothing stopping them.
While I understand that Uganda is not Nigeria, I believe youths are across the world are making giant stride in all strata of life and Nigeria shouldn’t be an exception.
Like I noted In a previous publication, It is very crucial at this stage of our existence to get many things right in government, and one of those crucial aspect of governance that must be gotten right is the aspect of youth inclusion in government at all levels.
Youth inclusion in government became imperative, as it is inevitable for any nation to prosper without its youths taking key decisions and making significance contribution in its government. However, youths must be responsible and demonstrate competence to be entrusted with leadership.
Youths are said to be the backbone of every nation, but what happens when the said backbone of this nation are relegated, neglected, under nourished and denied of its rightful roles and duties and in shaping the society for its needs?
Therefore, all well meaning Nigerians must drum it into the hears of the old leaders that Government and politics is not about the gathering of orators or wishful thinkers that seek to impose their will on others, but a gathering of the affected people to fashion out a common means of solving our common problems.
For this reason, I refused to be swayed by those that continue to belittle the role of the youths in shaping the present and future of Nigeria.
It is a common knowledge that in the decision making process of Nigeria, there is no consideration for the youths what so ever. This explains reason why the same leaders who had governed the country in the past continue to parade and recycle themselves in government. But if they couldn’t solve the problems of the country when they were young,strong and sharp, how can they solve it now when they are dull,slow and dull? The youths must take its destiny in its own hands.
While still on the matter, I stumble upon an article titled ‘’ Reclaiming Nigeria in 2015: Can the youths do it alone?
The article played down the capacity of the youths to effect change, citing examples of some youths that had served in government like the former speaker of the house, Dimeji Bankole whom the writer described as worse than the elders in government.
He also laid emphasis on the economic incapacity of the youths to the actualization of a youth led government.
My question to the writer is this, who are these youths that have served in government and how did they emerge?
Did they walked their way to the position by competence or they made it as a gift from their parents?
Do they have what it takes to represent the youths or they gained it by being close and loyal to a godfather and were given such leadership role as a favor to extend the interest of the godfathers?
If these questions may be answered truthfully, it shall be in the negative.
The truth is that, competent, upright and intelligent youths were never given a chance, those given were people who do the dirty jobs for their godfathers or those who were given as a repayment of debt owed to their parents.
I mean, those youths that find their way in top government positions are the yes sir boys that are clearly incapable and not worthy.
From my observation, doors of leadership is usually shut on youths that are worthy and ready, this is so because politicians see them as threat to their continuous domination. Politicians see competent youths as obstacles that may likely bring their reign to an end.
To continue justifying the incapability of youths, they use the incompetent youths, though aware of their incapacity, but still selected them to blackmail the rest of the visionary youths. Instead of blaming themselves for intentionally choosing the wrong youths for their selfish interest, they resort to blackmailing the rest of the youths claiming they are not better or ready for leadership.
Let me re-state that, i am not a believer in questioning why youths are not given leadership positions, but I am a strong advocate that enjoys youth to take leadership responsibilities.
In my view, only lazy youths look up to someone to give them leadership. Real youths with distinct character and leadership zeal for ‘excellence don’t ask for any chance, they create it, they don’t ask for leadership, they walk their` way to it truthfully and intelligently.
Furthermore, there is no doubt that it is the duty of the elders to prepare youths for leadership responsibilities, but this is not happening in Nigeria.The leaders of yesterday remain leaders of today and with the look of things if not checked, they shall remain the leaders of tomorrow.
The youths must therefore look beyond this set of leaders for leadership opportunities; else, they may have to wait till eternity.
Another major trick employed by the elderly politicians to deny youths of their rightly duty and role in government is when they say the youths of Nigeria are not ready or are incompetent. I laugh at such comments because I know for sure that, the youths of any nation cannot be said to be incompetent or incapable, except that the elders and leaders of such nation are failed people. So, if our elders have failed already, even though the youths are said to be incapable, they are still better than the failed elders.
A youth shouldn’t be more than 40years, he has only existed for a short period of time. He or she could also be said to be a new creature with virgin reasoning, fresh thinking and new ideas. These youthful qualities are what is needed to make a progressive society, but unfortunately, all these qualities are missing in our government,the absence of which is denying Nigeria the impact of the youthfulness required to meet up with pace of 21st century governance.
While I was discussing with an elderly man on my way to Abuja about the state of the nation and the need for youth involvement, the man simply said, I don’t think it is right for any youth to lead this time. When I asked why why, he maintained that, of what benefit is someone who had just existed for a short period of time to the government, when we have people with vast experience handling the affairs of the state?
To answer this question as short as I can, I said to him, youths are capable of seeing the error that is holding the nation down in the old practices. Errors preventing the nation from moving forward,but couldn’t be seen by the older people. The youth would note and attach value to what the older people will ignore knowingly or unknowingly, something that may turn out to be a key to solving the challenges facing the nation.
Statistically, youths are above 55% voting population in the Nigerian and they are the 0nly one’s that understand their own needs and aspirations. They understand the challenges of the modern day youths which are beyond the scope of the elderly people to be able to proffer any meaningful and impactful solution. Let me point out that, seeing the error in the old practices is not with the aim of discrediting the older generation or practices, but to strengthen the work of older generation and improve the system for the betterment of the society.
As it seems today, problems facing the Nigeria are not major problems as such, but some minor problems that were ignored for too long and eventually became a bigger challenge.
Therefore, giving youth’s leadership opportunities will amount to providing solutions to the challenges facing the majority of the country. Identifying the minor challenges on time and proffering the solution which can be better initiated and implemented by the youths
Also, youths have the capacity of seeing new things, new possibilities, new opportunities and new path to be explored. They would see the new hope, new dreams, new future as well as bring in a new believe to end all anomaly.
In view of this, let me make some recommendations for youth and youth organizations in Nigeria ahead of the 2015 general election.
Since youths are the largest voting population, every youth must demand that at least, 35% of those who govern both federal, state and local government are youths not more than 35 years of age.
Before any youth group support any political party or candidate, there must be an agreement signed in this regard.
Any party or individual who fail to comply shall be declare an enemy of youth growth and development of the state
Every youth irrespective of party must be committed to this agenda in their respective parties.
When youths blindly support politicians and their political parties without committing themselves to protecting the nation through seeking active youth participation in the decision making process, the nation becomes vulnerable with no future in sight.
Written by Abdulrazaq O Hamzat.
[email protected]
About the Author
