Not too young to rule, but…

ARE the youths aware of what it takes to run for political office in Nigeria? Is the system and structures ready; are the youths themselves ready or they are pepper-souping, naija-betting and premier-leaguing?

A social media revolution is unfolding before our eyes, forever changing the way we connect. The young boys of Lagos preoccupied with their cell-phones; a young girl tweeting from a health-care clinic in Abakaliki; a young nurse taking notes on an iPad in Jos at the school of health. My 14-year-old son is on WhatsApp and chatted with me the other day on Facebook Messenger.

When I X-ray the not-too-young to run bill that was recently passed into law and the politics of age, there are several questions begging answers including the possibility that we are not even asking the right questions or have refused to provide the right answer. While I rejoice with our youths it is important to know if indeed this bill has asked the right question, does it solve the pertinent problems in our polity?

Our youths, do they have the financial muscle; can they wrestle the polity without an overhaul. Do they have the experience or they want to learn on the job?

Amidst these questions and fears I remain cautiously optimistic when I see the commitment of young people around the country. Over the next decade and beyond, if we are to solve the most pressing issues of our time, we need to tap into the dynamism of youth movements and young social entrepreneurs, for they have the potential to disrupt inertia and be the most creative forces for social change. We need to ask ourselves: if they are not too young to run are we not old to run, that being the case how do we empower the youth to drive social progress in developing Nigeria through new and innovative projects?

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Today’s youth sustain power in them to raise and cure the political, social and economic issues and bring the change they wish to see in the nation. The generations coming forth have the capabilities, ideas, strength, and knowledge to develop and implement innovations within all the sectors required for a balanced society. They are the roots of the economy on which a strong tree stands. An active and major participation could only unfold the hidden potential lying beneath the veils of stereotypes and prejudices.

At 25-35, the youths are all strong, free spirited and full of ideas, they believe in everything including Santa Claus…soon the same youthful persons are threading the lines of 35-50 years, they start doubting all they once stood for, questioning the system and blaming everybody but themselves.

Nigeria is currently governed by those that look like Santa Claus, they don’t know what they believe in, what the people believe and are incapable of any form of belief, they are not too young to rule, but too old to say still. Is Nigeria ready? The youths are coming, are we prepared or this is another bill on a dust gathering journey?

• Prince Charles Dickson Phd,

pcdbooks@outlook.com