Youths in a Democracy

I have always being of the opinion that the youths in Nigeria hold the key to the future of this country. Call it election irregularities or rigging or even thuggery, the fact remains that the youths of our time are always at the front of the cause - good or bad!

Why should our leaders continue to manipulate us whereas we should be the ones determining our future. Its so bad when some of our youths having collected meager amounts of money from those looting their future, compromise their conscience. So sad that you ask an average Nigerian youth about the situation of Nigeria and the just shake their heads as if to say, we are finished!

In his early or mid 30s, the substantive governor of Benue state was already involved in policy formulation in the form of a Federal legislator. However, what you find today is youths aged 30 - 45 being used to perpetuate election rigging and thuggery in order to advance the selfish interest of these leaders! what a shame!!

Have we forgotten Former Minsiters of Information Frank Nweke Jnr, Chukwu Emeka Chikelu, Osita Chidoka (Commandant FRSC) and many other youths who held and still hold public offices till date. What about the PDP governorship flag bearer in the just concluded Anambra election, Tonye Nwoye. These group of youths have continuously being involved in governance in Nigeria and i keep wondering if these youths used for illegal activities do not see what i see.

In Rivers, Sokoto, Kano, Borno n many other states, the youths are being used to settle the self interest grievances of political parties. You will laugh when i remind you that most of these youths who cary placards of political parties do not even belong to these parties - as such are not card carrying members of these parties. Worse more, they do not possess the instrument of change i.e. voters card, but they keep fgting for causes they do not even believe in.

All hope is not lost any ways, but we the youths must stand up to challenge our misleading elders to contest, including during elections. Yes we can! You can be voted for and thus should not be degenerated to mere election thugs.

While i implore youths to brace up for the upcoming elections in 2015, one thing we must do is to ensure that we come out enmasse in our various constituencies or wards to get registered and obtain our voters card. From that point we can start strategizing on who gets elected or otherwise and subsequently who should be recalled.

If we begin now, we shall be taking the right step in attempting to save our noble democracy

HAPPY NEW FROM SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY GROUP

It’s a New Year peeps; a match to the much awaited election year come 2015! 2013 did not go without a lot of political intrigues, the highlight was the attempt to form a formidable opposition to the ruling PDP in Nigeria. For me such political happenings are positives consequences of democracy. We are gradually going past those days when elections were almost concluded at PDP primaries; once you obtained the PDP ticket for most elections in many parts of the country, you could only but go home and rest for victory is certain! That situation encouraged allegiance to delegates and god fathers rather than Nigerians themselves.

This time around it’s going to be a different ball game. Go win your primaries and come and convince Nigerians, telling them what you have to offer. Perhaps you might just be garnering votes in that way that would ensure your victory at the general elections. For this reason, we the electorates shall be prepared to reap enormous dividends from democracy. In economics, it is called a perfect competition situation. This also means that as MTN, GLO, ETISALAT and Airtel fight to grab more users through promos and innovations, only we the end users stand to gain at the end of the day.   

On our part as electorates, we ought to get ready with our writing materials - paper and pen, tablets, Ipads, phones and other recording devices. Information is necessary, so we have to record all their promises upon which we shall judge them as time goes on.

My friend who is also a classmate and is contesting the gubernatorial elections in Benue State had confided me in me that he ought to prove a point to the youths in Nigeria. He said to me, it is high time the youths realized that they too can sit on seats of administration and governance rather than being hired as thugs for election rigging and odd jobs. Our time is now and we have to begin to use it wisely.

Who says these recycling contemporary political leaders are not recycling their old ideas and a new wave of younger reasoning ought to start taking over? With the saying, “the youths are the future of tomorrow in Nigeria”, it behoves on us to seize this opportunity by force (violent taketh heaven by force) else, our greedy parents will keep ruling a pretty younger generation until there shall be no future for us no more.  

At this point we urge all the youths in Nigeria to shun the fold arms and watch syndrome. We can do more in instilling a new order in democratic governance in Nigeria. We are the internet generation, full of ideas that must not be allowed to erode or become obsolete just because we didn’t act when we had to. We alone can work assiduously towards bridging the gaps that our society presents in religion, tribe, etc.

As we meditate on the way forward, let us realize that folding your arms and forming ignorance is also a policy statement, however, how far the results of such actions would portend, remains the conclusion as to what nature and history will judge you and tell about you when the time comes.

Happy New Year from Save Our Democracy Group!