YOUTH IN POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Ayoh Orshi writes from Makurdi, Benue State
Historically, Nigerian youths have played crucial roles in the nation’s life. The struggle for an independent Nigeria was championed by young Nigerians who also fashioned the post-colonial Nigeria that we have today. Young Nigerians like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Anthony Enahoro and others made dedicated efforts towards the attainment of an independent Nigerian State at relatively young ages. They founded political parties and actively participated in the political processes.
It is saddening to note that there is a dangerous departure from what the youths in Nigeria stood for in the political space. Nigerian youths have shown apathy and lack of interest in politics but with pregnant hopes on the yields of governance. They have assigned to themselves the job of analyzing, criticizing and proffering solutions to the leadership challenge in Nigeria without positive results. They resign to fate and await the next electoral cycle to express their disenchantment without really participating in the actual processes that would lead to the presentation of candidates by political parties for the general election.
To state that the Nigerian youths have been the prime agents of change is a reiteration. They have always done this as outsiders in the corridors of power with the Social Media as a potent instrument. Sadly, they have refused or neglected to take the needed step to address the challenge. They refused to join political parties leaving the crucial role of nominating candidates is left in the hands of the party delegates who are mostly elders without the sophistication to make a choice for a better tomorrow. They prefer to wait and exercise their democratic rights at the general elections where candidates produced from primary elections are fielded. They job at this point is simply to make a choice from the decisions of elders reached at the party level.
In 2015, Nigerian youths championed the cause for a change of government which ushered in the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria. Unfortunately, most of the young people contributed to this historic moment of Nigeria’s democratic process through youth movements instead of active membership of political parties.
In February of this year, the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, commenced membership revalidation and registration exercise across the country. Traditional with political parties, this signalled the commencement of activities towards the 2023 general elections. The exercise presented an opportunity for youths to have a rethink towards politics and governance and chart a way for their constituency.
It is a golden moment and also gladdening that youths have heeded the call to join political parties and actively participate all the electoral activities. The ongoing registration exercise of the APC has shown this commitment. Young people have registered as members of the party and demonstrated their willingness to become players in the game of politics. It is hopeful that when the opposition PDP starts her own within the year, youths should not shy away from registering too. That is the only way to seek for positions into Exco of the various parties at all levels. Party decisions should not be purchased but reached after serious deliberations and considerations. With the active and dedicated participation of youths in the affairs of political parties, the needed change in the governance architecture would be achieved. To me, the goalpost has not changed, it is still good governance!
