At last wrote an update. Within this period, quite a number of events have occurred everywhere across the country. However, unlike our previous updates, today we are going to focus on some of the possible solutions. This change in point of view was informed by a number of events which I will go ahead to state. Firstly, while commenting under my last update on this platform, a kind fellow suggested that proffering solutions to these problems would be a very good topic for the following week’s article. Unfortunately, an update never came due to personally best-known reasons. Additionally, yesterday, in response to a tweet announcing the kidnapping by bandits of dozens of students in a north-western state, somebody tweeted; “we are sincerely tired of trending hashtags”. This goes to show how routine these spates of unrest have become. Further, this morning, I came across a WhatsApp status update by a friend and classmate which read thus; “You spend a lot of time complaining. Channel that energy into fixing the problem instead. It is worth mentioning again that the foregone are the motivating factors behind today’s update.
Last week, I listened to the spokesperson for the northern elders’ forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed on an interview, where he stated that the most honourable thing the president should do at this point in time, is to tender in his resignation, as he has failed in his most primary duty and foremost campaign promise of delivering security of lives and properties. Sincerely speaking, there is no point for a government to continue remaining in office when it has failed. It cannot even be allowed to repeat as the performance has been far below par to warrant that. We have seen situations where leaders in different parts of the world have done this. The recent being Lebanon, in the aftermath of the warehouse explosion, where the whole government resigned. There are certain problems that are beyond redeemable when the people under whose noses, such things occur remain in charge of fixing it. The first solution therefore is for the president to honourably resign and allow people who are more competent to fix the situation.
On this year’s independence day, I attended an event where I listened to the founder of Connected development, Hazmat Lawal, saying that the best way through which the youth can take over the leadership of this country is by strategizing around taking up the vast majority of seats in the house of representatives chamber of the National Assembly. I have always been in support of the youth taking up leadership positions. However, which of the youths are we putting forth for elections? Do we think simply being youth is a qualification? Let’s rethink it. The point I am trying to drive home is that there is no democratic setting where a president summoned to face the citizens, who are represented by members in the legislature, will fail to appear. In places where things work, this is enough a reason to begin impeachment procedures. The solution, therefore is for capable, fearless and well-versed youth to strategize and be supported, to take over the majority of the only hope that remains of the democracy that Nigeria is, the legislative arm of government.
Further, in the run up to the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, we saw the passage of the not too young to run bill. The bill advocated for reduction in the age requirement of running for office. One area on which I always fault the bill is its failure to realize that age is the least among the myriad of obstacles standing in the way of the youths’ active participation in the leadership of this country. even though, it is wrong, is it not in this same country that people falsify ages to last longer in civil service or to serve or not serve in the mandatory national youth service? What I rather see as the most important obstacle in the path of youth gaining leadership is adequate support by means of funding and strategic planning. If the minimum age of eligibility to vie for public office were to be dropped to 10, the youths are still not going to take over without paying attention to the non-age factors.
Finally, it is imperative upon each and every citizen to be actively involved and invested in all aspects of this country. I’ve heard a lot of people talking about getting their voters card ready for the next rounds of general elections. This is quite impressive. However, getting involved at the grassroot level, at the party level is equally important. On this note, I will end with the words of Malam Nasir elrufa’i some years back at the Chatham house in London where he said; “until we improve the character of the people we put forth for elections, we will keep having the same results we’ve always had”.