By Musa Affos (Rhapsodi)

The not too young to run bill has been through a great battle of rejection before it got passed into law. Several states threw out the bill but perseverance and consistency finally paved the way before it got enacted into law.

When Taraba state firstly rejected the bill I felt very sad and was wondering: how will the youth have a place in government. I blamed the law makers, the older generation but then I saw another reason which am about discussing.

Now that the bill has been passed into law: how prepared are we. What is our readiness as youths?.

Often times, we blame the older generation for not giving us a level playing ground to be able to take our place as youths in government. But have we taken a look at our selves as youths? Have we sit to analyze our readiness to take over from the older generation? Come take a walk with me.

Here in Taraba, where I come from, there were quite a number of youths who came out to contest for various political position though i was a bit bothered. Why? Because of all the positions they want to contest none of the youth contested for  governor. I felt since we are just starting, let's start somewhere and when we are able to get certain positions & make good impact, we can then be a threat to even the seat of President.

Quite a number of youths vie for various elective positions like counsellor, LG chairmen, members etc. And a good number of them have a reasonable number of youth campaigning for them & under there control. But towards the primary elections, they suddenly were no where to be found. Alas they stepped down for yet to be known reason(s). They stepped down for the same old generation they had always complained about and without even posing as a threat to their opponents. Left to me, I will say maybe they were paid off; maybe they had limited resources; maybe they want to make a name. It all boils down unpreparedness. Because a moving train doesn't stop till it reaches its destination.

 POLITICAL AWARENESS:

Political awareness of youths is less than a half mark if it were to be rated using academic grading system.
Statistics show that of the 4-5 high institutions we have in Taraba state, if 100 students should be brought out to mention 5 commissioners and their Portfolios, you won't get up to 25%. A good percentage of youths don't even know the commissioner of youths & sports or that of education. When you don't know all this things how then do you get to know where there are lapses and how to come in & thus correct the errors.

Despite the awareness about voters card & the need to have it, many youths don't have it & don't have plans to get it. How then will you vote an upright youth or a leader of your choice?.
Many youths are not card carrying members of political parties, sometimes you have to belong somewhere to be able to have a platform to contest and have a say.

The rate at which youth abscond from political activities has given a signal to the older generation to the extend that even the delegates used in primaries of political parties constitute of just a negligible number of youths.

 LESS PARTICIPATION IN POLITICS & POLITICKING

The less participation of youth in politics can be traced back to lack of political awareness which I earlier discussed above.
Most youths don't participate in politics due to lack of political awareness. How then do one get to be aware?

Social Media: let me use only the social media for the sake of this piece & its because of its aid that you're now reading this.

The social media consist of various news, discussion & analysis. Debates, state of the nation & lots more which we all can have access to using our phones at any location.
But funny enough the interests of most youths is drawn to phonographic contents, online dating, sex chats & things related to such.

This days the easy way to get the attention  of youths on social media is when you talk about religion comparison & insults, leaked sex videos; things like "5 ways to last in bed", " How to make a man feel good under the sheets"...etc.
Am not against anyone's interest hence our interest varies from person to person but having a knowledge of the political happenings in your country won't be a bad thing hence we are not too young to run. We should also be not too young to know the political happenings of our nation.

 THE WRONG SIGNAL:

Often times we complain of how we are been deprived of our right as youths but I get puzzled seeing youths who are fortunate to be place in government tend to be more tyrannical and have excess display of arrogance & pride even to their fellow youths.
Finally I got to the conclusion that, good leadership is not a function of your age, gender, religion or tribe but its a function of your personality as a person & the content of your heart.

Talking about wrong signals: some of our behaviors as youths has already given a signal to those in Seats which suggests we are rascals, incapable, not reliable & thugs like.
Apparently the people use as political thugs, those use for riots, kidnaps and lots more are mostly youths & these trends have been on for a very long time & despite the awareness created about such act, it's still on the verge of increase.
How do we take over when a good percentage of youths belong to one cult group or the other
How do we show signs of seriousness when drug addiction, rascality & prostitution has been a ritualistic habit among the youths.
How do we take over when even our parents are yet see us as responsible fellows talk more of taking over from them.
Party halls, clubs tend to have more youths than even those with voters card.
We tend to be desperate for little stipends at the detriment of our future.
Its quite unfortunate that some of this behaviors has discredited even the serious youth before the masses & those in incumbency.

 A CLARION CALL

In as much as its too  not in order but i applaud some churches for stopping their members from partaking in certain right until they show their PVC. Such acts if possible should be emulated in Banks, Shopping plazas, before giving admissions and lots More.

As youth let's endeavor to be epitome of leadership not just energy, arrogance and uncultured behaviors. Let's get ourselves involved in the political happenings of our dear nation not been thugs but via legal political Means - from delegates to party officials and contesting too.

Its high time we create awareness about the importance of youths participation in politics and thus strategies to win maybe through a youth forum irrespective of political party, religion or tribe. It won't also be a bad idea if we as youth support our fellow youths who are fit for elective positions.
The youths constitute about 70-75% population of this nation and therefore what we say stands.
Do not sale your rights as youths for little stipends at the detriment of our future.

I hope to see youths emerging as counsellors,  LG chairmen, Members state & Federal house, senators, Governors, Ministers & even the President.

God bless Nigerian Youth

Musa Affos is a blogger, Motivational  writer & social media Activist.

Affos Writes From Federal University Wukari-Taraba State.

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