Re: Not Too Young To Run But Too Young To Win? -By Ezinwanne Onwuka

Not Too Young To Win, NO YOUTHS NO VOTES! —Adesanya -Davies

Ezinwanne Onwuka writes in Opinion Nigeria on February 21, 2022 an article titled: “Not Too Young To Run But Too Young To Win?”, wondering and asking though not as negative as it may seem, the possibility of Nigerian Youths being successful in some elective positions in the next elections of 2023. He pounders, “Though it might sound pessimistic, the fact is, given the opportunity to participate does not guarantee success or real participation. For example, despite the era of Civil Rights ending formal segregation for African Americans, segregation based on price of access still remained. Applying this scenario to winning election and getting into political office in Nigeria by the youths, therefore, is likely to produce the same result.

May I ask another similar question, how would Nigerian Youths be able to pay the wooping sum of money being required for purchasing of the nomination forms to secure certain positions in order to contest elections, especially in the major two parties i.e People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC)? These are the fears of the youths that are ready to run for positions inspict of the legislation of “The Not Too Young To Run Bill.” The Youths will definitely need waivers as was done in 2019 election by the Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) Presidential Candidate in 2019, where I was the consensus presidential aspirant who later emerged as the flag bearer.

Historically, “though Nigeria practices a democratic system of government, the 1999 Constitution disrupted an important characteristic of democracy by placing an age barrier by disqualifying persons below the ages of 40 and 30 from throwing their hats into the ring and vying for president, and membership for House of Representatives and Assembly, respectively.

This mainly accounts for the reason since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, known faces have resurfaced in successive elections, especially at the Federal level, portraying a system that is under siege by the actions, inactions and reactions of the ageing political drivers of this country in policymaking and implementation, which has, indubitably, led to the marginalisation and limited political participation of the youth.

However, on May 31, 2018, an historic event took place in Nigeria. The event was the signing of the Not Too Young To Run bill into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. The legislation brought down the age qualification for President from 40 to 30; from 30 to 25 for House of Representatives and States’ House of Assembly. It, however, did not change the age qualification for governorship and Senate, both were retained at 35 years.

Prior to the signing of the bill into law, elections in Nigeria have been defined by the exclusion of the majority (youths) who have remained vulnerable to the “take who you see” or the “highest bidder” syndrome. Thus, when Mr. President assented to the bill, there was jubilation from all corners by the youths who felt the time has come for them to take over the reins of political power.

While the legislation is a welcome development, we have failed to ask ourselves an important question, particularly as 2023 gets closer and the political atmosphere in Nigeria is being heated up as the race for Nigeria’s presidential election has started in earnest. Given the continued rape of democracy by the mighty old ruling class whose interests in politics is to acquire power, wealth and notorious fame at all costs at the expense of the very ordinary poor masses, will the young people who gets to run actually get the tickets at the primaries let alone get elected?

Today, everybody is tired of the old ruling class but the ‘old order’ is not ready and willing to leave the stage for the younger generation. Instead, they are coming out en masse to declare their ‘age long dream’ of succeeding the present crop of leaders come 2023, despite the nationwide clamour for a younger leader. This is because they understand that politics, in Nigeria, is one of the surest means to power, wealth and fame. Hence, the reason they have been in the saddle for years, enjoying the splendour and aura of power and will do anything possible not to relinquish power, thereby- preventing a power-shift to the younger generation.

The thorny point is that Nigerian youths do not need a sense of entitlement legislation to be allowed to ‘run’ for elections in their own country. The Not Too Young To Run law is only a facade that masks away the sour issues at the heart of retrogressive politics in Nigeria. This include fundamental issues like money politics, god-fatherism, election malpractices, and corruption; as well as the dysfunctional structures of the nation’s democratic amalgam and the lopsided economic disparity between the mighty old ruling class and the deliberately pauperised youths by the same criminal political elites.

To reiterate, the law is a welcome development. However, it remains a pyrrhic victory for the youths until the political space is made fair and open enough to build and support young people, helping them to run and actually get elected. How would Nigerian Youths be able to pay the wooping sum of purchasing nomination forms to run for and secure certain positions and would
they actually be voted for with all these bottle neck!

It’s high time nomination forms are made free for the youths as it’s been made for the women folks, if I may suggest and appeal, so that Nigerian youths may actually arise to contest in their numbers and occupy their rightful position in 2023 in the nation politically. It’s time for, “NO YOUTHS NO VOTES!” as we have being saying, “NO WOMEN NO VOTES!”

It’s time for the implementation of the “Not Too Young To Run Bill” which was signed into law by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) by the Nigerian youths themselves in practical terms. Lets us begin to chant, “NO YOUTHS NO VOTES!” as we chant “NO WOMEN NO VOTES!”

The writer, Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya- Davies, the Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) Presidential Candidate in 2019, now a presidential aspirant under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for 2023 presidential election. We would recall that towards 2019 elections, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had endorsed my Presidential candidacy on the 8th day of June, in Port Harcourt and at the same event, I was awarshed with an Award of Excellence in Service and Outstanding leadership; with the inscription on the plaque “In recognition of her consistency, steadfastness, developmental strides, motherly disposition and mentorship towards the students community and society at large.” I once again say thank you to the Youths and Students community as I continue to enjoy their unalloyed and massive support. At the same event I was endorsed for the Presidency by the Niger Students Union Government, National (NSUG). I also serve as their matron.

My other endorsements: the N-POWER GROUP (U WIN, I WIN) against 2023 Presidential election, has endorsed me on Wednesday January 5, 2022, at a courtesy call in Port Harcourt has endorsed me a viable presidential candidate. And I did accepted their nomination encouraging them to continue with their campaigns on my behalf. It is an association initiated by, and made up of Nigerian daring Youths in the 36 States of the country. They are already drawing participants from LGA to LGA, state to state and the entire country towards the 2023 elections.

In an earlier development, another political pressure group and accountability vanguard known as Democratic Watch for Good Governance in Nigeria (DWGGN) in what they called “PMA FOR RESCUE 2023” has similarly called on me to occupy the seat of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023.” The call was made at the council’s office in Port Harcourt during its quarterly meeting. The group opined that the country is in total shambles and needed urgent remedial intervention.

May I conclude again that I have a dream, that one day, a woman will emerge as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the dream is now! This is because, if Nigerians elect a female president, it will be a turning point in the nation’s history. It will also be an honour to have Nigeria’s first female president. If Nigeria can give women a chance to rule, I am sure we will never regret it.

AGAIN, I HAVE A DREAM, THAT ONE DAY, I WILL EMERGE AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND THE DREAM IS NOW !!!