The Superpower with no Power: The Case of Nigerian Youths -By Adeleke Azeez Olalekan

As I will like to continue using my pen to drive the attention of the Nigerian Youths to how weak, ignorant, and unserious they have become, I hope it yields a positive outcome one day.

In the recent past time, I read about how youths of the 60s and 80s were able to fight with the use of media, knowledge, activism, comradeship, and unity, the devils of colonialism, and military domination in Nigeria. These youths were front-runners in the struggle for Independence who stood firmly to gain the Democracy and independence we all enjoin today. Many of these youths were reputed for the creation of the first political party in Nigeria as well as the creation of many organizations including the National Association of Nigerian Students, the Civil Liberties Organisation, and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights. They represented the true interests of their members and fought confidently and tirelessly to achieve their vision.

Despite the track of records of the older generation youths, it is very alarming and devastating that the Nigerian Political space is exclusively reserved for the old politicians who are continuously recycled to paddle the ship of the political affairs of the country.

To well inform us, in spite of the many advocacies tailored towards ensuring increased youths participation and representation in Politics and despite the fact that youths occupy about 60% of registered voters in Nigeria, ridiculously, the rate of youths voted into elective offices in the last election is less than 2%. Alas!

Ordinarily, Nigerian Youths in their unity, determination, and seriousness can outvote any government irrespective of any powerful forces or electoral fraud put in place by the power that be.

But, what have we done to change the narrative? Absolute nothing! Many Nigerian Youths have been relegated to the comments, likes, and tweets sections of social media life who jump on every trend confusedly without any direction. It is highly disappointing that while the reason to make a move to transform the political climate in Nigeria is clear to all and sundry, majority of Nigerian Youths are either nonchalant, confused, or clueless as to how to achieve that.

We are the powerless Superpower, we are the Majority that has no say, we are the silent Oppressed, we are the toothless bulldogs, we are the timid lions, and we keep wishing for the best while we do little or nothing to actualizing it.

Until we show seriousness and readiness on our part as the majority, no change will emit in the world of illusion.

*Adeleke Azeez Olalekan*
_Nigerian Writer & Youths Development Strategist_
adelekeolalekan2000@yahoo.com