In my humble opinion, I don’t think the youths have what it takes to be even leaders of tomorrow not to talk of today as the case may be.
Are we exhibiting the real exposure and maturity required for leadership?
Taking a trip down memory lane, one will discover that almost all those who led this country since independence in 1960, have been youth, both the military and political leaders at all level of governance were mostly in their mid 30’s and early 40’s as at the time they took over the mantle of leadership.
After the death of Macaulay, those that led the struggles for independence – apart from Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe who was 42 – were all below the ages of 40 while some were as young as 27: Ahmadu Bello Sardauna was 36, Tafawa Balewa was 34, Chief Obafemi Awolowo was 37, Samuel Akintolo was 36, while Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh and Chief Anthony Enahoro were both 27.
So also, Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu was only 29 when he led the first coup in 1966, and the coup was countered by a 28 year-old Lt-Col Murtala Muhammed, Theopilus Danjuma 28, Ibrahim Babangida 25, Sani Abacha 23, Shehu Musa Yaradua 23, and brought into power Aisha Yakubu Gowon 32, Ojukwu 33, Obasanjo 29, and Buhari 24.Most of the military governors who governed the states under the successive military regimes were under the ages of 30.
So why is it that these old leaders are still recycling themselves in power today?
Well, the fact that these leaders have recycled themselves very often in power over the years may be attributed to the fact that almost all the succeeding generation of youths whom were lucky to be at the helm didn’t fare better either, while majority of them proved to be even more worst than the old elites. We always wail that the same people who ruled before many of us were born are still the same people in power today, and yet, we are foolishly fighting and abusing each other to protect the selfish interest of the same old men we accused of marginalizing us.
It is a big shame that my fellow youths today doesn’t even understand the meaning of ‘leadership’, we are more or less new cars carrying old engines.
We overwhelmingly lack the skills, character's, vision, and qualities to believe in ourselves not to talk of governance where millions are expected to believe in us.
It’s a big shame that while our colleagues in other parts of the world are making incredible progresses in nation building using their little opportunities, we are here selling our future to devilish expired politicians who are nearing extinction. But stupidly, we want to be given leadership roles.
Nevertheless, I still harbor a lot of confidence in the youths of today, but we the youths need to start having faith and believe in ourselves as well as demonstrate to the world that we can perhaps do better than the ruling elites.
We must be committed to weasel the possibility of any bewilderment and put together our collective mental outlooks for the betterment of all and sundry.
About Me: Alfa Tijani
I am gentle in nature, creative, friendly, God fearing, industrious, accommodating, and Best of my kind is who you found me to be… I remain my humble self .
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