Against the background of recent signing of the United Nations’ promoted right of “NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN” by President Muhammadu Buhari and the attendants racketeering that Nigeria’s political elites are trying to make of it, it has become incumbent that a number of critical clarifications be made.
In the first place, in Africa culture and cosmology, leadership is never bestowed by gerontocracy. Young and old persons govern together, that is why a Yoruba adage goes that “the hand of a child cannot reach the roof while that of an adult cannot enter gourd” There are several historical instances where young persons have assumed leadership. More –importantly age-barriers are being shattered everywhere in the world to provide lee-way for qualitative, and developmental leadership. It is an unassailable truism that franchise right cover every citizen from the age of (18) to vote and be voted for.
Having established this basis, YAPM frowns at the condescendingly placatory scheme of President Muhammadu Buhari at the signing of the “Not-too-young to run-law”. Even at the risk of sounding extremely uncharitable, we consider Mr. President as an old, crude bigot-chauvinist. We recall how the he publicly told his wife that her roles and responsibilities are in the room and kitchen. In the same vein, President Buhari recently condemned Nigeria Youth as “Lazy with sense of entitlements”.
This is a gross balderdash coming from a man, whose cabal has taken the nation in ‘bondage’ since their youth age recycling themselves at the helms of power, passing the reign of power from one senile old man to another. We challenge this administrator to point out which role, office or designation that a youth is occupying under its watch. Rather there is not only physical relegation but also systematic denial, all sectors which can benefit the youth like education, employment, health, industries etc, have been destroyed.
YAPM calls on Nigeria Youth that the right to leadership is never decreed or signed into law. It is fought for and won. It is an inalienable, constitutional and natural right that once a person attains the age of reason, in the case of Nigerian law, eighteen years, you can vote and be voted for any office – all other rules and regulations debarring Nigerian youths are unconstitutional, null and void.
We urge Nigeria youth never again to sleep on their equities and rights and, as only the vigilant can claim rights.
Mr. Bukola Adeojo
Director General
