There is the general trend everywhere now that keeps
propping up the slogan “YOUTHS”.
This is simply telling the youths to pick up the gauntlet and join in the foray
of politics as it will enhance them to knock off the oldies that have been in
the corridors of power for a very long time and of course saddle them with
leadership responsibilities.
It is a good notion which I am in support of. I for
one have decided to vie for an elective post but starting from the cradle as it
is aptly put in Yoruba language that “Ibi pelebe la tin mu oole je”, which
means we start by eating “moinmoin” from a small morsel before digging further
for bigger morsels. As I said earlier on, it is a good thing the youths are
been gingered to go into politics at a time like this, but I want to ask the
question, are the youths really ready for leadership positions?
There has been the argument that Chief Anthony Enahoro
moved the motion for independence at just twenty three! While people like
Tafawa Balewa, and the political elite class like Chief Ejike Mbonu (Of the
popular boycott all the boycottables fame) were also at that time young.
However, we need to know that the circumstances at that time were more
favourable in that one, we were about transiting from the colonial era to full
time independence. Secondly, there was sanity in the system until the military
came in and truncated democracy. We remembered what happened when the “Youths” in the military took over the
reins of power as their inexperience on administrative duties clearly showed
and lack of in-depth knowledge on the daily affairs of Government. What
happened later on was the catastrophic civil war which took a whole thirty
months to end. How about “genuine mistakes” of the Civil service purge during
the era of Murtala Muhhammed/Obasanjo Regime?
In all this, I have not said we do not have youths who
are endowed with extra-ordinary leadership qualities, but how many are ready to
take the bulls by the horns? We have the instance of a youthful Governor
somewhere around the middle belt who has been owing workers several amount of
salaries yet, goes on doing irrelevancies. How about those who let power get
into their head (owing to inexperience) and trample on people as if they were
foot mats made to serve such person? What about a Special Adviser entrusted
with a duty who sees it as an avenue to enrich his pocket? As it is a proverb
in Yoruba language that the first money a child gets is spent on purchasing
bean cake (Akara).
The United States of America did not consider this
when they decided to ignore someone in her sixties but instead opted for
someone in his seventies and today, their economy is the better for it! Would
we rather leave someone who has the managerial experience, the tact, the
charisma, the nationalistic outlook, a detribalized Nigerian and an employer of
labour who has solution to the economic quagmire that the country is in right
now and go for a Mr. Integrity who has never had a business nor understand what
it means to employ someone, that has refused to develop himself educationally
and has no solution to the economic problems in the country?
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar underwent political tutelage
from the late General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua before contesting for several
elective posts. The one that readily comes to mind is being a vice president
for two terms of eight years under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, of which he
was the head of the economic team during that period. He is a real epitome of
patience, humility and knowledge all rolled into one. The experience is there,
the clout and charisma is there as well. Who else can be in a good opposition
stead to the current president if not Atiku?
It will be a good idea if the youths of this
generation take their destiny in their hands by undergoing tutelage from
experienced hands, have a mindset of service and dedication to the community
and also be passionate about what happens around them on daily basis. They
should hunger for better government and work for it to be entrusted in the best
hands. Power cannot be served a la carte but that they should fight for it.
Social media and useless activities on the internet should not be the central
focus of youths by engaging in unwholesome activities but rather they should
put it to good use and try to rise on the political ladder.
Let us jettison politics of sectionalism and
sensationalism and opt for an individual who really has the solution at
hand. This is a time to genuflect on
what we really want as we pray that Atiku Abubakar will be given the mandate to
steer the ship of this country away from the auto pilot it has been set by the
current administration to safety.
Ayorinde D.
Comments
Post a Comment