The Nigerian Senate yesterday passed a raft of bills that signalled the beginning of a constitutional review process, pending their ratification by the president. Perhaps, the most prominent of these bills is the #NotTooYoungtoRun bill, a bill that has been the subject of intense controversy for the past one year in Nigeria, with the UN also lending its voice to the agitation. About 24 hours before the bills were passed, angry young Nigerians were at the gates of the Nigerian senate in the capital Abuja, demonstrating and ranting for the #NotTooYoungtoRun bill to be passed. It seems their voices have finally been heard.
The bill is an initiative pushed by about 54 youth organisations in the country, calling for more inclusivity for Nigerian youths in the nation’s politics and policy-making. Their requests include reducing the ages required to contest for the post of the president, governor, senators, House of Representative, etc.
This new bill means “Nigerian youths can contest for President at the age of 35 and Governor or Senators at the age of 30.” It is a change from the initial 40 and 35 years limit respectively, which was mandated by the Constitution. The bill also stipulates “that 25-year-old people can now legislate in the National and State Assemblies across the country….”
The movement and the bill are not out of order. The absence of youth inclusion in decision-making processes in government has created disillusionment among Nigerian youths with regards to Nigeria’s political parties and the ruling class. Presently, Nigeria has a high unemployment rate, most of them youths, but there are lesser policies than those required to halt this problem. If the youths of a country are jobless, then there is bound to be an increase in vices. Politics is often seen as a way to address these issues in Africa.
The average age of Africa’s population is 19 years, Nigeria is 18.2 years, which is in sharp contrast to the average age of the big men “ruling” the countries on the continent; 65. Many of these septuagenarian leaders find it hard adapting to the ever changing 21st century, suggesting they are way past their time. The average age of Nigerian presidents, as at the time of their swearing in, since 1999 (when the present Nigerian constitution was created to include the age qualification for running for office) is 62.3 years.
In the same breath, the movement and the bill are out of order. The agitation for youth inclusion in politics is cute, in a we-want-to-be-like-Western-countries kind of way. The protests, the agitation, and the democratic process carried out in achieving this must be praised. However, are Nigerians ready for a leader less than 40 years of age?
There seems to be a lack of orientation at the local government level for many Nigerian youths regarding Nigeria’s politics and political history. The amount of work that would go into that is of massive proportions; the daily vitriol of Nigerian youths on social media is an inkling of the cobwebs of ignorance that need to be gotten rid of. The nation’s political history is something that has been left off the nation’s educational curriculum, and it is one aspect where the older leaders will continue twisting narratives to favour them. Ignorance, no matter who leads from the top, will always create problems. Ignorant youths are the weapons used by politicians to disrupt democratic processes through violence, as witnessed in the last Lagos state local Government elections. Nigerians don’t respond to knowledge as they do to power and force, and its present ruling class knows how to wield their favourite weapon, the youth.
Also, in a country where political bigwigs groom their children for political roles, even when the latter seemingly are not competent, there are fears this new bill will simply hasten the rise of these children to power. Other concerns include questions of “who will sponsor an unknown Nigerian youth in Nigeria’s political parties?”, “who will for vote an unknown youth to be president?”, “How will they break into political parties led by old men not so keen on change?”, “Would young politicians be taken seriously?”.
Much as we would like to be like France, and vote a young Nigerian “Emmanuel Macron” into office, France’s democracy is quite old, fought for with blood and grit, and is transparent, and their leaders are accountable to the people. So, no, getting a young Nigerian into political office isn’t the solution. The solution is to make our democracy work for everybody, including old and young people, a process which requires transparency, accountability and working systems. It is to be sure that the people surrounding whoever gets into office know enough, and really know, to speak truth to power, and to make sure that the political system works for everybody. Yes, youths should be involved in policies that concern them. However, you don’t need to be young to be leaders anywhere, you just need to be competent.
