24th August, 2020.
Facing a world in a vertiginous transformation, the socio-economics, development and progress of Nigeria is indispensable. In a process of transformation that will culminate Nigeria to peace and tranquility and eventually to a true democratic country, a country that really belongs to all Nigerians, depends mostly on the participation of it's people, especially the youth, to rebuild the country and restructure it to the high standard. Participation is the noblest action of exercising democracy. Participation means taking part in decision making to build the future and making decision means having responsibility to whatever the risk as the outcome of those decisions. To make all these become real, there might those in power grant opportunities. The achievement of new spaces of political participation of youth, through their juvenile organizations, should play, in this context, a decisive role. These existing organizations should free themselves from any influence or interests; politically, ideologically, religious or tribal inclinations in order to maintain as significance social and cultural movements, which take the conscious responsibility for pushing the process of changing and society building. The Nigerian youth are fighting for gaining a new space of political participation. The youth presented plethora of alternatives for the solutions of some fundamental issues bothering the countries.
Th young people in contemporary Nigeria need a paradigm shift to drive the desired change in the political space. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is witnessing a growing youth bulge which are occupying the population of 80 million out of the 200 million of the country's population. The youth between the age of 18-35 constituted 42.54% in the overall population of the country according to National Population Commission. These large teeming of youth population can be broadly categorise into two group;
1. The priveledge, the educated and the empowered youth.
2. The hungry, the poor, the less educated and less priveledge.
Over decades of years, the political atmosphere of the country is still dominating by the older generations which are upto date amongst the participants of the first republic. The youth are not having appropriate shared in the Nigerian public sector in terms of employment, empowerment and engagement in politics. The political domination by the older generation of in the executive and the legislators is not encouraging. There is need for constitutional amendment to remove age bracket pertaining vying a political seat. As far an 18 year old is eligible to vote should also be eligible to contest any political seat. There can still be a paradigm shift. The struggle to have the ideal society is an unending one and it is our collective responsibility. Nothing moves until we move it. There is no better time than right now to come together in an atmosphere of this nature to redefine ourselves. Youth are the bedrock of economic, social, cultural and political success of any nation. Hence, no serious-minded nation dares toil with the welfare of its youth. It is easy to identify a failing state by the attention it gives to its youths. As youth, you are the light of the world. The entire scope of humanity earnestly awaits your manifestation. You may want to start asking yourselves about the legacies you intend to give our nation.
Therefore, our contemporary youth need to be actively involved in politics. Join a party or join hands with fellow youth to create a movement and continuously create platforms that cannot be ignored. There is nothing more powerful than a committed group of people with an agenda for change. In lieu of us depicting ourselves as victims or perpetrators of violence or merely media sycophants, we need to recognise and acknowledge the crucial role we can play to contribute to our nation building.
We must at this time get fully involved in governance/politics. It is popular saying that youths are leaders of tomorrow. That tomorrow has already came. The young people have a different perspectives and host of different ideas. Therefore, by allowing themselves to engage in politics, they could be opening and moving political world forward. This is not only good for our society but also very necessary. Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the one we have been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
The contemporary Nigerian youth must participate in governance/politics at all levels. Participating in politics gives way into controlling and running of the government in both state and federal level, therefore youth should be involved in all aspects of politics. If we want the bad ones to take over, let the good ones simply fold their hands. The young people are the good ones and we are simply folding our hands. It's time we get involved. Let's start with what we have and where we are. Let's find a place we can get involved in.
In every administration youths are the conscience of the nation. They are the ones who call attention to social malady, bad governance and other atrocities in the society. They have the exuberant energy, resilience and determination to take over the politics and control the polity but they need a sincerity of purposes and prudent armed with honesty, probity and integrity. They must do this with a vision at hand and a capacity to pursue the vision. With this, I believe our local action will be felt globally.
We all have a role to play in making our nation better. Our little drops of water can form the ocean of the better Nigeria of our dream.
© COMRADE SHAMSUDDEEN MUHAMMAD
Youth Activist from Bauchi, Undergraduate Student of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University.
Contact: 07056220944
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