Youth Participation in the 2015 elections -By Gidado Yushau Shuaib

“Keep true to the dreams of thy youth” – Friedrich Schiller

With the 2015 general elections only a few days away, the tempo of campaigns have reached a feverish pitch and Nigerian youths are deeply embedded in the activities, both positively and negatively.

Youth participation is relevant in politics because of its large population and potentials in terms of mass mobilisation. Statistics have actually shown that Nigeria is a nation made up of youths with strong emotional effect on politics. The National Bureau of Statistics in its report in 2012 reveals that of the Nigerian population of 166 million, 50 percent are youths. Surprisingly less than half of this are actively employed, leaving the remaining unemployed.

It is rather unfortunate that with the large population of youths and the kind of influence they can weigh on national development, they have been relegated to the background as the elderly politicians use them for various vices.

We are living witnesses to the fact that some youths are used as political thugs and touts during campaigns and election periods. In other instances, they are recruited as personal bodyguards to corrupt politicians and bouncers at odd spots.

While youths are being deployed as campaign agents for crowd mobilisation at rallies to chant political slogans and for successes at elections, at the end of the day they are relegated to the background. Even the natural positions that they fit in like commissioners or advisers on youth matters and youth campaign coordinators are assigned to old politicians.

After elections, the hopes and aspirations of the youths are usually dashed. All campaign and pre-election promises of juicy appointments and jobs made by politicians, which mostly entice the youth to engage in sometimes untoward activities at campaign rallies remain largely unfulfilled after elections. It is noteworthy that on the rare instances that such promises are fulfilled, young people hardly betray the trusts reposed in them as they commit themselves to serving the society. Since they have a future ahead of them, young people strive to seize such opportunities to secure their future in public life.

And, this is sensibility that government should explore in development strategies. It will be wise to have youths in various advisory boards, commissions, ministries, and as representatives at councils. Youth commissions or boards should be established to advise councils on matters related to their welfare.

There should be an obligation to youth development through youth representation in power. The nation requires young men and women of unimpeachable character seeking political offices and moved by a passion to serve and push the Nigerian Society to greater heights. They should be motivated and encouraged to rise above the grips of the lack of proper education, poverty and the deprivation of necessary social amenities.

Youths are basically an integral, indispensable part of society and in this present time have to redefine themselves. They should elect credible candidates who are not out to deceive and betray them. They should ensure they vote out bad leaders who are always seeking for ways of getting into political offices only to become leeches on society. Meanwhile, political parties should not just be avenues for contesting elections but also training grounds for young and inspiring people that would be leaders of tomorrow.

Gidado Yushau Shuaib is available at Gidadoshuaib@yahoo.com