Youths need to brace up for leadership in 2023

NIGERIAN youths need to be proactive and brace up now to take over leadership of the country through the ballot box come 2023, in order to salvage Nigeria and their own future.

This is a clarion call that should be heeded by all youths considering the present economic, political and social situation of the country, where nepotism, tribalism, religious fanaticism, leadership incompetence reign supreme.

Nigeria needs urgent youths’ positive intervention because the past and present crop of leaders have failed the nation.

We democrats wish to call on all Nigerian youths to take back this country from bad leaders now ravaging its prospects. This call is very important now that the elections are just around the corner.  There is no other set of people that can salvage this country from total collapse and looming disaster than the youths because they have the population and energy to achieve this urgent lofty feat.

We should remember that historically, youths of most developed or developing countries constitute the dynamic labour force behind the development of such countries. Our heroes past in Nigeria started ruling in their prime ages. For example, late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Chief Anthony Enahoro etc made a difference as youths.

Even our military adventurists took over power in their youths and some of them are still ruling us in Agbada in their old ages. The main problem of this country is leadership problem. The country is bedeviled with bad leaders who have no vision or mission.

Youths now have the opportunity if they can sink their tribal, religious and social divide, then come together as a formidable team to actualise their dream of turning this country into an Eldorado where milk and honey flows.

What the youths should do is to form their own political party, select their own presidential, governorship and legislative candidates, rather than allowing themselves to be used by old politicians that would give them crumbs and use them as political thugs.

The youths should ensure they vote for youths that are well educated, have the interest of our country at heart and have vision and mission and also ensure that they do not vote for aged and dying candidates as president, governors, and lawmakers. This is not the period for protests and rallies as we do not want our youths to be killed.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa with one of the largest populations of youths in the world. We can no longer allow our worst brains to continue to rule us whilst we push aside our world’s best brains. The easiest means of taking over power is through the ballot box. Power is not a gift; you have to take it through the ballot.

Our youths should not resign to fate. They should start strategic plans to take over.

• Chief Adesunbo Onitiri, Lagos.