ASIDE THE MONETIZATION OF OUR POLITICS, YOUNG ASPIRANTS MUST DO MORE TO BE ELECTABLE

Politics they say, is a game of numbers. More than half of Nigeria’s estimated 200 million population are youths, aged from eighteen to thirty-five years. The united Nations, makes use of ages to classify who a youth is, as it relates to education, employment and other entitlements. The united Nation defines youths “as those persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years”, but other member states have clearly defined in their own terms, which people are classified as youths in their respective countries, Nigeria inclusive. The Nigerian National Youth Policy 2009 states that “youths shall comprise of all young males and females aged 18 to 35 years, who are citizens of the federal republic of Nigeria”. 

According to the Independence National Electoral Commission INEC, out of a voting population of 95.8 million, 60 million, representing 63% are young people aged 18 to 35. What this implies is that, with coordinated and concerted efforts, young people can actually call the shots at all levels of our politics. Its rather unfortunate and preposterous that we are now very comfortable playing second fiddle in our political process. Any nation that ignores her youth is doing so at her own peril, we may be lousy, not serious, or unfit, but, we are very much concerned about our dear country than our political class that have outspent their political lifespans and are closer to where they are going than where they are coming from. These politicians have nothing to lose, they have been in power for decades and are still firmly in control and would still be, if we do not make efforts to rescue our dear nation. We do not have another country to run to, but these politicians do, they have dual citizenship, same as their kids, if Nigeria fail, they will migrate. So, the onus is on young people to get involved in the political process. If you want to be a councilor in 2023, then start building structures now, if you want to be a governor, volunteer to work free for your state, start engaging the people now. Do not come and rush us few months to elections and you lose, then you tell us to come out and do revolution. Revolution in a democracy! no one does that, and we will not be used to achieve some selected individuals’ selfish interests. 

The institutional laws have been put in place, especially with the passage of the not too young to run bill into law. But the real issues have not been addressed. The monetization of our party politics is still rearing its ugly head. Most young aspirants are unable to purchase the exorbitant nomination forms of the two leading political parties in Nigeria. This has forced them to contest under lesser parties whose nomination forms are quite within their reach. Most young political aspirants attribute the problem of funding as their biggest challenge. In the build up to Edo state governorship elections in September 2020, the ruling All Progressives Congress has pegged the party’s governorship nomination form at 22.5 million naira while other smaller parties form hover between three hundred to five hundred thousand. In a telephone interview with decosuleblog, Hajia Fatimah Sani, the youngest female political aspirant in Jigawa State, who contested the house of representative’s seat under the platform of African Action Congress, confided in us the challenge she encountered before and during the 2019 elections. Hajia Fatimah vied for the Kazuare, Roni, Gwiwa and Yankaswashi federal constituency seat at the aged of 32. The young aspirant, complained bitterly about the negative reception that greeted her aspiration because of her gender. In overall, she got the support and endorsement of majority of the locals, women and children. Interestingly, Fatimah purchased her nomination forms five hundred thousand and thereabout in 2019 while her counterparts in the all progressives congress got the same house of representative’s forms for three million, eight hundred and fifty thousand.

Fatimah Sani Mohammed 

The Nigerian youths that make up half of our voting register woefully failed to support Fatimah and other young political aspirants even with their experience and pedigree. It is sad. As young people, we should be able to effectively utilize these numbers to entrench good leadership in the country, but, alas, the reverse is the case. What have the young population done with this numbers? Why are we still heavily under represented in governance? Why are we not in the power equation of our nation? If we make up 51 percent of the entire voting population, why do we still play second fiddle? These questions are not puzzling, and they do not seem to get out of my thoughts as an individual who craves for a better Nigeria.  

In 18 months, Alexandria Ocasia -Cortez dramatically rose from being a bartender in New York to a congress woman in the United States. She defeated a political heavyweight and veteran in the democratic party primaries even when she has never contested an elective position all her life. But in Nigeria, this can only be a mere mirage. The national assembly in the build up to the 2019 elections amended the electoral laws to reduce the age of the qualification for president from 40 – 30, Governor from 35 – 30, Senator from 35-30, house of representatives from 30 – 25, and house of assembly from 30-25. The amendment expunged the darkest spots in our constitution, and it has further reinforced my firm believe, that the youths were not present when the 1999 constitution was drafted as in most cases when issues that affect us as a nation are discussed. The amendment may not have come at a better time though, we are grateful to the political elites for this kind gesture. 

It is pertinent, however, to note that, even with the new laws, the same old problems faced by young political aspirant such as money politics, thuggery, rigging and other heinous vices are still unabated. Aside these, another great limiting factor militating against youth’s participation in politics is our inability to learn and understand the political process before we jump in to contest elections.

It is very disheartening that majority of young Nigerians who are aspiring to lead and provide leadership are not willing to bring their heads down and learn the intricacies and nitty gritty of the process. You cannot just wake up from the comfort of your bed, fresh from a dream where you became a senator and in reality, with our excessive faith, start printing posters and junketing everywhere that you want to lead. Nigerian voters and by extension the population will not give us political power because we are young. Being young is never a criterion to winning any elective position. Young Nigerians need to prove that they ready, that they have horned their political skills and can provide better alternative. In the Republic of South Africa, the current president, Cyril Ramaphosa was a former secretary of the mine workers in South Africa in 90s, he was an active member of the ANC youth league and was the chairman of the reception committee that organized the series of activities to mark Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. In the United States, thirty-year-old congress woman, Alexandria Ocasia -Cortez did not just wake up and won elections on twitter. During the 2016 presidential election, she worked as a volunteer organizer for Benie Sanders in the South Bronx, her constituency, expanding her skills in electoral organizing and activism which gave her the opportunity to tour the country. This helped her to launch the New York 14th district people funded campaign that enabled her to win her elections in 2019. Today, she has remains committed to serving working class people against corporate interests and advocating for social, racial, economic, and environment justice.   

Adamu Deco Suleman 

decosule@gmail.com