The clamour for youthful leadership: The stormy sea of murky waters
My participation in political and socio-economic discourse has been at its lowest ebb for a long while now. Even though i'm no social media freak but i visit several social media platforms and online news platforms every six hours to check on latest happenings in the country. And as expected there is always a new gist about governmental actions and proceedings in the country.
I have only chosen not to comment on the rather pathetic and horrendous shape of our country not because everything is quite good and cool instead its because every latest news about our country seems to be laced with comic and hilarious substances to which one cannot but smile and ponder over what our country has become, which brings to the fore the title of Chinua Achebe's book that indeed "there was a country".
The Nigeria political space has been inhabited by comic actors who are obviously apparelled in suits, agbada, or babariga wears with little or no knowledge about how to steer the affairs of the country in the right direction.
From the ugly incident of the the parliamentary budget padding which i'm sure most Nigerians have forgotten and " moved on" , visible cluelessness of the executive , the seemingly "unprofessional" attitudes of our lawmakers; most of them don't even know what is expected of a lawmaker, to the ironically funny theft of the mace of the red chambers.
Even politicians are not left out of the drama that has enveloped the giant of Africa and made it a sudden laughing stock amidst the league of nations in the world. The recent show of shame by the politicians is the unexpected rush to overtake each other in congratulating the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBN) Show as if the winner was awarded a medal of honour after the exercise! What a country!
Anyways, that's for the other days, the only issue that has caught my larger attention is the clamour by youths in the country for the old boys in power to retire and allow young bloods to take the space in leading Nigeria to its "Canaan land".
Youths have decided its time to get rid of all the cabals that have refused to allow technological and economic advancements in the country but have instead chosen to continue to enrich their pockets with the Nigeria treasury and has also failed to give the youths the chance to display their leadership qualities and prowess, all because they know that a youth in power cannot be easily hoodwinked into acting their devilish and unpatriotic scripts and this would spell doom for their pot bellies and their large pockets.
Some politicians having seen the undeterred determination of the nation's youth have decided to deceive youths into believing they can be stewards in their government and advice the leaders on how to achieve the desired change, what a fallacy! Are the youths to be deceived?, that remains to be seen.
Several obstacles might jaundice and annihilate this beautiful dream of youthful leadership, arising from finances especially in a country where elective offices have been turned into a good of the highest bidder, and a nation full of electorates who aren't ready to cast their votes for any candidate who isn't ready to grease their palms with a few naira notes. Corruption is everywhere!
I will advise the youths include in their campaign programmes strong and convincing reasons why people should shun monetization during elections and should avoid conscience and thought purchase.
Also it will be in the best interest of aspiring youths who wants to be leaders to shun the cankerworm that has eaten deep into the heart of Nigeria politics;"GODFATHERISM " as this might affect their visions and missions for Nigeria's socio-economic and political landscape which they hope to redesign.
On a note of finality, and before i drop my pen, i think its wise to advise youths not to be overambitious in their leadership aspirations in order to avoid public miscalculation of their intentions.
Adeagbo Emmanuel(Don Manuel)
Is a political science student of
Obafemi Awolowo University and also a social critic. 08142701827 Emmyteetop@gmail.com
I have only chosen not to comment on the rather pathetic and horrendous shape of our country not because everything is quite good and cool instead its because every latest news about our country seems to be laced with comic and hilarious substances to which one cannot but smile and ponder over what our country has become, which brings to the fore the title of Chinua Achebe's book that indeed "there was a country".
The Nigeria political space has been inhabited by comic actors who are obviously apparelled in suits, agbada, or babariga wears with little or no knowledge about how to steer the affairs of the country in the right direction.
From the ugly incident of the the parliamentary budget padding which i'm sure most Nigerians have forgotten and " moved on" , visible cluelessness of the executive , the seemingly "unprofessional" attitudes of our lawmakers; most of them don't even know what is expected of a lawmaker, to the ironically funny theft of the mace of the red chambers.
Even politicians are not left out of the drama that has enveloped the giant of Africa and made it a sudden laughing stock amidst the league of nations in the world. The recent show of shame by the politicians is the unexpected rush to overtake each other in congratulating the winner of the Big Brother Naija (BBN) Show as if the winner was awarded a medal of honour after the exercise! What a country!
Anyways, that's for the other days, the only issue that has caught my larger attention is the clamour by youths in the country for the old boys in power to retire and allow young bloods to take the space in leading Nigeria to its "Canaan land".
Youths have decided its time to get rid of all the cabals that have refused to allow technological and economic advancements in the country but have instead chosen to continue to enrich their pockets with the Nigeria treasury and has also failed to give the youths the chance to display their leadership qualities and prowess, all because they know that a youth in power cannot be easily hoodwinked into acting their devilish and unpatriotic scripts and this would spell doom for their pot bellies and their large pockets.
Some politicians having seen the undeterred determination of the nation's youth have decided to deceive youths into believing they can be stewards in their government and advice the leaders on how to achieve the desired change, what a fallacy! Are the youths to be deceived?, that remains to be seen.
Several obstacles might jaundice and annihilate this beautiful dream of youthful leadership, arising from finances especially in a country where elective offices have been turned into a good of the highest bidder, and a nation full of electorates who aren't ready to cast their votes for any candidate who isn't ready to grease their palms with a few naira notes. Corruption is everywhere!
I will advise the youths include in their campaign programmes strong and convincing reasons why people should shun monetization during elections and should avoid conscience and thought purchase.
Also it will be in the best interest of aspiring youths who wants to be leaders to shun the cankerworm that has eaten deep into the heart of Nigeria politics;"GODFATHERISM " as this might affect their visions and missions for Nigeria's socio-economic and political landscape which they hope to redesign.
On a note of finality, and before i drop my pen, i think its wise to advise youths not to be overambitious in their leadership aspirations in order to avoid public miscalculation of their intentions.
Adeagbo Emmanuel(Don Manuel)
Is a political science student of
Obafemi Awolowo University and also a social critic. 08142701827 Emmyteetop@gmail.com
Without any iota of demagoguery, this piece is another masterpiece of relevant political discourse. Apart from the literary allusions and analogies well deployed by the writer, the strategic use of satire and humour is praiseworthy.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, the old cycle of political Machiavellians needs to be challenged by the energetic and visionary youths of our time.
This is yet another brilliant delivery from an informed personage. Kudos!
@McTommy