Nigerian politics is an old school game; it is a game that recycles within the same political inclination, same political ideology, same political system including same mind set, same objective with same motive. It is a game that is played by the same players without substitute, a game without new tactics. Nigerian system of government is actually an old wine in a new bottle; it is a system of using old products and rebranding them to suit the present market situation. It is simply a strategy of packaging old products that cannot yield any result or satisfaction to the consumers. For how long can we sit and watch this old school game?
This call for a wakeup call to all Nigerian youths, these old school players have lost moral authority in this country and thus, paralyzing the youths with fear, the fear of terrors. These old school players need to be reminded that it is not good to sow the seed of catastrophe as no one knows the augury of tomorrow. There is time for everything, a time to keep silent, a time to speak, a time to be inactive and a time to be active. What went wrong? Where did we go wrong? What is happening in this country? Must we constantly follow the same cabals who are misleading us and making life unbearable for us? Does this mean the potentiality of this great nation has been arrested and taken away from us forever? I think there is a need for Nigerian youths to reflect on these questions.
Professor Wole Soyinka said it all: Awolowo was 37yrs, Akintola 36yrs, Ahmadu Bello 36yrs, Balewa 34yrs, Okotie-Eboh 27yrs and Enahoro 27yrs. These distinguished personalities led the struggle for Nigeria’s independence after the death of Macaulay. Among the list enumerated by Soyinka, only Zik was 42yrs at that time. Admittedly, in 1966, the first military coup was led by Nzeogwu who was 29yrs and countered by M. Muhammed 28yrs, T. Y. Danjuma 28yrs, Babangida 25yrs, Joe Garba 23yrs and brought into power Yakubu Gowon 32yrs, Ojukwu 33yrs, Obasanjo 29yrs and Buhari 24yrs. Ironically, today we have Buhari 75yrs, Osinbajo 61yrs, Atiku 71yrs, Obasanjo 81yrs to mention a few.
Most of the military governors who governed the states under the successive military regimes were under 30 years as documented by our noble laureate Professor Wole Soyinka. Apparently, the brief democratic dispensation which interjected the military interregnums also saw some Senators and members of the House of Representatives, in particular, populated by persons less than 30yrs. Under 30s were also not in short supply with appointments like MT Mbu who became Foreign Affairs Minister at 23yrs and Pat Utomi who became a Federal Adviser at 27yrs and many more.
What remains a million dollar question is why almost all this age bracket today is still sleeping in their parent’s homes? Why is it that this age bracket is roaming the street? Why is it that this age bracket is today still searching for job to infinity? Why is it that this age bracket is not occupying political offices? Why is it that this age bracket is been sidelined to political affairs of this nation? These questions and many more will remain a thorn in everyone’s flesh.
I think the youths are over sleeping, they are over keeping quiet and thus, they are mistaking them to be fools. This is the time to spring into action; this is the time to end this game of recycling the recycled. 2019 election is by the corner, no more Nigerian system of democracy where salt and rice are used to lure the electorate into voting for a candidate. The youths must do everything within their capacity to make sure that under 30s are given the mandate to rule this nation comes 2019.
- By Aondover Eric Msughter,
Department of Mass Communication,
Bayero University, Kano.