The following is
a thought-provoking passage shared with me by friends on the Internet. I took
the liberty to tweak it a little:
Where did we get it wrong? Awolowo
was 37, Akintola 36, Ahmadu Bello 36, Balewa 34 and Okotie-Ebo and Enahoro 27. They
led the struggle for independence after the death of Macaulay. Only Zik was 42
at the time. In 1966, the first coup was led by Kaduna Nzeogwu, 29, and
countered by Murtala Mohammed 28, Theophilus Danjuma 28, Babangida 25, Nanven
Garba 23, Sani Abacha 23, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua 23. It brought a 32-year-old
Gowon to power. At that time, Ojukwu was 33, Obasanjo 29 and Buhari 24. Most of the military administrators who governed the states under the
successive military regimes, many of whom are still in power today, were under
30. The brief democratic dispensation which interjected the military
interregnums also saw the House of Representatives in particular populated by
majority of members under 30 years, as well as some senators.
Under 30s were
also not in short supply with appointments; MT Mbu, who became foreign affairs
minister at 23, and Pat Utomi who became a presidential adviser at 27. Why is
it that this age bracket is today still sleeping in 3-seater chairs in their parents’
homes? Why is it that this age bracket is today still collecting pocket money
from their parents? Why is it that this age bracket is today still writing
JAMB? Why is it that this age bracket is today still ‘sagging’ their trousers? Why
is it that this age bracket is today still searching for jobs, not yet married?
Why is it that this age bracket is today no longer qualified to even be leaders
of youth wings of political parties? Why is it that this age bracket is today
so docile? Why is it that this age bracket is today still incapable of feeding
itself? Why is it that this age bracket is today barred by law from even
aspiring to certain political offices? Why is it that this age bracket is today
incapacitated, unwilling, unable and incapable of asking questions?
Since the National Conference was inaugurated by President
Goodluck Jonathan, it has opened another comical chapter for the unengaged
Nigerian youth who have found solace in tweeting and ‘face booking’ their lives
away. It is a sad irony; but it is true. Pictures of retired and tired
octogenarians and septuagenarians commissioned to redefine the future of an Internet
generation napping away for a fee! It has to be the most desirable job on
earth, one that an obviously frail delegate insisted on taking for the love of…
her country!
We don’t need a soothsayer or a crystal ball to
predict the outcome of the National Conference. It has already started showing
signs of futile, recycled ideas incompatible with the realities of today. Perhaps more disturbing is the fact that the
same sentiments (ethnicity, religion, injustice, etc) that have so far eaten
away at the fabric of our nascent democracy have crept into their sessions. Why are we not
surprised at the drama unfolding at the conference? There is something futile
in inviting the same people who created our problems
and profit still from them to proffer solutions. They should step
aside and let us be.
Why has fresh blood eluded statecraft? Could it be that the
youth are deliberately and systematically excluded for the status quo to remain?
Are poverty, unemployment, poor education and lack of opportunities all
premeditated weapons of suppression? Why are our youth not groomed for
leadership? The aim of the conference is
to divert attention from the important lapses/ issues we should be discussing
with serious purpose. A conference that cannot reach a consensus on issues as
mundane as the opening prayer and voting pattern, weeks after inauguration,
cannot and should not be handed our future to decide.
We already have separatist groups like the Biafrans, Movement
for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta and, lately and even more menacing,
Boko Haram surfacing their ugly heads all over Nigeria. That apart, we have
indigene and settler issues, herdsman and farmer disputes. These guys are
taking up arms; frustrated elements taking the law into their own hands and
mimicking the crimes of leaders and politicians. This is what they have been
taught, lawlessness. We have only one option, to take our country back. We have
no choice; otherwise we will be going from frying pan to fire. Get up today and
make your voice heard. There is an opposition – we. Please grab your neighbor
and together get involved in the political space. We need to take our mandates
back and steer the country back on course.
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