The word “youth” recently have attracted so many definition from different individual in this part of the world. Some have tactically dragged in chronological and mental age into the definition, these same people bent in support in support of mental age definition of youth rather than the chronological definition. Universally, youth is defined as “the quality or state of being young”, this definition also bring us into dilemma of identifying who the real youth is in terms of age. As much as they are trying to dribble us around over the definition of “youth”, most people have defined a youthful person as someone within age bracket of 18-40. While on the other hand, the eight letters word “politics” does not have much argument surrounding its definition, it is simply a methodology and activities associated with running a government, an organization, or a movement.

In recent time, there has been massive request for the involvement of youth in the political setting of the country, this sounds so nice to the ears of the youth same way as the legendary musician Ebenezer Obey’s “OLOMI” will sound to the ear of a bachelor. In actualizing the call, there are so many unanswered questions: Is the constitution the friend of the youth? Are the youths ready? Can the youths withstand and survive the diabolical process? Can the youth survive in the highly inflated political environment? These are very few of many questions to be answered.

In a democratically inclined country like Nigeria, all actions and inactions are bounded around a powerful book called “constitution”. The constitution remains the most powerful entity in the country which no one should go against in a proper setting, even though we have seen some constitution maneuvering in recent time. As powerful as the constitution is, is it also friendly to the youth in the same weight? To some certain level, I say Yes, at age 30 any Nigeria can contest for a sit in the house of representative which is highly acceptable. But the youths sees leadership as occupying an executive position rather than legislative position which is supported by the constitution. With this, most youth sees the constitution as their enemy rather than their friends. Though, rather than the youth forming up a social capital and network each other to suggest alternative route to drive away from the tight corner age has placed us in today political positions, most of them finds it easy and satisfactory to become a praise singer for the old politicians. The time is now, the youth need no further waiting before asking the elected legislators to act what their preached prior to the election. It is absolutely expected that the change inclined legislators should embrace with happiness bills like independent candidacy, amendment of age for executive positions and many more like that. I believe if the senators have such bills at their disposal to deal with, probably they would not have enough time to think of gagging the populace with the social media bill.

To say the youth are not ready is the least expected unless we are trying to justify that there is massive difference between the current youths of the country and the likes of Shehu Shagari who became Federal Legislator at 30 and Minister at 35, M.T. Mbu Minister at 25 and High Commissioner to the United Kingdom at 26, Richard Akinjide Minister of Education at 32, Maitama Sule Oil Minister at 29, Yakubu Gowon Head of State at 32, Audu Ogbe Minister at 35. In the phrase of Abraham Lincoln, democracy is a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people”, with respect to Abraham Lincoln’s word, I believe that democracy signifies the representation of people in government. Demographically, the Nigerian Youth is easily a demographic majority considering an estimated population of 68 million Nigerian Youths. It is therefore the right of the youth to be in today’s governance. In as much as we sees it as our right, we should not beg for it, the youth should be bold enough to take actions and not just talk on the streets of Nigeria. 

The diabolical state of our politics coupled with the expensive political environment is another herculean reasons why most interested youths are running faster than Usain bolt away from the political atmosphere. I am still in dilemma on how to resolve these two great challenges, I am therefore waiting for your response if you have any idea on how to resolve this. Feel free to comment on here and my different platforms that will be written below. Thanks for reading.

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