We don’t need ‘youths’ in Nigeria politics

Sobowale Rasheed

Compunction is what my inner body sweats when I relate what many of my age range advocates silently, ‘let the youths be given a chance in Nigeria’s politics.’

Yes, the country needs young minds (fresh blood) active involvement in the nation’s affair, but we don’t need youths. I am also a youth, so this is not coming from one old man, in fact, I am in my earliest twenties.

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The nation should be purged of corrupted old hands, and be replaced with vibrant ones with integrity. We are sick of trying same generation and lineage. Let us have a fresh air.

We need mature minds to replace the matured shysters.

You ask me if I would vote any youth into office, especially if vying a post contesting against one of the present shysters? I will never at the cost of anything vote the young man. Why? Because he is a youth.

I would rather prefer the aged shysters to rule the nation than vote in a youth.

Show me a young lad who has the mind of an old hand – you already have my vote.

All our nation need to purge itself of old shysters is not and would never be youths, instead, a young vibrant mind of an old hand with conscience and integrity.

‘Vibrant mind of an old hand with conscience and integrity’ is the main lack of Nigeria. Since you cannot put an old wine in a new bottle; since our old daddies are maladroit of such, our best option is the youth.

It is surprising to know that many-a youths has its mind well configured with corruption than the said incompetent at the helm of the nation’s affair.

Youths, get involve in politics only if you have the right mind of the imaginary person we are all expecting to change our dear Nigeria for better.

Don’t expect my vote if you are well and better or same configured as the present weeds we are wishing to get cultivated.

In 1818, the US Senate administered the oath of office to John Henry Eaton of Tennessee, who was 28 years old at the time.

The US Constitution sets the minimum age for Senate service at 30 years. The framers reasoned that adding five years to the 25-year minimum they had established for members of the House would enhance the deliberative nature of that body which, they felt required a greater ‘stability of character.’ – same with Nigeria I guess only that in our own case, it is 35 years of age in accordance with section 65 (1)(a) of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution.

John Eaton, even though acclaimed the youngest US Senator ever, never woke up a day and decided he wanted to contest the post of a Senator. His biography is available on Wikipedia, read it and see for yourself. He has been involved in many political assignments. Nobody questioned his age when he contested and won the Tenesse Senatorial seat. Why? He displayed the knowledge that qualifies him worthy, not as a youth but as someone who possesses an old hand mind.

Another young politician I will also like to mention is John Fitzgerald Kennedy. He once said ”Conformity is the jailer of freedom, and the enemy of growth.” I believe this was his watchword and the foundation of his passion to question the status quo. Well captured by his biographer in ‘John F. Kennedy on Leadership’, John A. Barnes who writes ”Part of being a leader is not to follow blindly. A leader is someone who evaluates the ‘way things are done’ and determines whether they are the way things should be done. Leaders are not afraid to challenge the status quo if necessary or to strike out on a new path. John Kennedy was encouraged to question authority and stir things up even as a child, and he carried this trait with him throughout his life. He was not afraid to challenge authority or to break the rules, and this confidence originating in his childhood was able to help him make significant changes as president. (Kennedy was not like other youth who only clamour for change – he became an agent of change himself).”

To gain practical experience for the job ahead, youths should get involve in local politics. Youths should be an agent of change in their community and progressively vie for their state’s house of assembly representative post. That is the better way to go about it. Not waking up one morning delusioned by the present top enchelon politicians limelite and wish to be one overnight.

It is absurd seeing a so-called youth, an entertainer or something of such voicing is future ambition of becoming the country’s president. ‘Biko’, better go and contest the president of comedian association because you already unfurled yourself to be a member – you are a joker!