That I raise a flag to the effect that priority and pride of place be given to the youths in our political participation and transactions in a piece earlier portrayed and published in the dailies is not unfounded. It’s warranted and worth the call.
This theme, besides its especial imports to the Yoruba -speaking popular of the Southwest, it’s, no doubt, of global significance too as young people between the ages of 15 and 25 constitute a fifth of the world’s population, according to UN Youth. Such is the huge necessity that it becomes for younger generation to stand up to the prevailing anomalies and advocate a political arrangement that is more engaged and that leads toward a higher quality of democratic governance.
Let me do a portrait of what obtains else where around the world for the youths on the political front, perhaps doing same will help put some balance on the table, after which the piece, which is a concluding part of the theme, will be rested.
The domination of Nigeria’s political space by the oldies has necessitated the statistics given to reflect what obtains on other scenes. In the United States, for instance, a person must be at least 35 to be President or Vice President, 30 to be a Senator, or 25 to be a Representative, as specified in the U.S. Constitution. For the United Kingdom, at age 18 and 16 (in Scotland) to stand in elections to all parliaments, assemblies, and councils at the European. This age requirement also applies in elections to any individual elective public office; the main example is that of an elected mayor, whether of London or a local authority. There are no higher age requirements for particular positions in public office. Candidates are required to be aged 18 on both the day of nomination and the day of the poll. This was reduced from 21 by the Electoral Administration Act 2006.
In Indonesia, for instance, at 35 to be, one is qualified to run for the office of the President or Vice President as specified in the Constitution, 30 to be Governor or Lieutenant Governor, as specified in the 2004 Regional Government Act, 25 to be Regent, Vice Regent, Mayor, or Deputy Mayor, as specified in the 2004 Regional Government Act, 21 to be Senator or Representative in both national and local parliament, as specified in the 2008 Election Act. In Mexico a person must be at least 35 to be President, 25 to be a Senator, or 21 to be a Congressional Deputy, as specified in the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.
Emplacing above the age variations as required by the laws in the various countries for political offices is a deliberate effort, to at least attempt a juxtaposition with Nigeria’s , where a person must be at least 40 years of age to be elected President or Vice President, 35 to be a Senator or State Governor, and 30 to be a Representative in parliament. The question then arises as to the number of the national Assembly members, especially in the Southwest, Nigeria is not twice the required ages? If we check painstakingly and sincerely too, one would see how and why a preponderance of the youths of the Yoruba identity are either retarded of growth or are stagnated in the outright.
Nigerian youths should be prioritise and given a chance to prove a difference. The involvement of the youth in Nigerian politics will lead to civic engagement which shall broaden the horizon and fine-tune political engagement because it would enhance service to the people at greater dosage. Young people who participate politically in their community from early on are more likely to become engaged citizens and voters. So in order to have better “young” citizenship, politics is one of the best tools. Even in countries of dictatorship, the younger generation’s fresh ideas and new leadership can help to overcome authoritarian practices.
We said and regret that the way gerontocracy has eaten deep in the fabrics of our national life was not so with the people and culture of the Yoruba at the various chapters and sagas in history; the writer also referenced it wasn’t so when Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu land was enthroned at age 26 in 1960. This exemplar monarch, who the writer acknowledged has reigned for more than half a century has achieved so much for his domain and the Yoruba land as a constituency, now coming close to a blight given the recent public pejoratives that was disdainfully traded between him and the former President Obasanjo, confirming the fear of redundancy that punctuates old ages in leadership.
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, who is young and youthful continues to apply physical and mental muscles to initiate and coordinate lofty activities to advance the interest of his clan, the country and the black race around the world. That is the statement we are making and Ogunwusi’s as others, are enduring testimonies.
This is a clarion call to the remainders of the great apostles, a gospel call on all concerned and patriotic voices to rise to the occasion towards giving the youths a chance to change course of history to the benefits of all. As we expect that this call finds repentant ears and souls, we hope the the proverbial seed of the sought difference will find a good group on the Yoruba soil, to grow, germinate and bring forth good fruit as examples to the rest of the nation.
Dr. Ajulo is the Principal Partner, Kayode Ajulo & Co. Castle of Law, Founder, Egalitarian Mission for Africa and former National Secretary, Labour Party.
