Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai
By Amb Shuaibu Gomna
I am delighted by the recent statements made by HE Governor Nasir Ahmad Elrufai on his call to the youths, professionals, and religious leaders on shunning insults and critics by reminding them of the importance of being politically active in order to kick out the bad and old cargos from the corridors of power for the country to work again. It’s undoubtedly notable that gerontocracy is what causes our today’s national public spheres to be awash with visible and hidden intimations of generational leadership failings, incompetence and indolence in many parts of the nation’s leadership.
It’s of the belief that when a system is crippled, it’s the responsibility of the youths as a nation’s trustees of posterity to refix it. But unfortunately, the youths are suffering from the corrupt system caused by today’s cargos of incompetent and indolent governance pilots. It’s high time for the youths to start engaging in governance and participate in political and decision-making and quit being “Yes Men” to politicians. Although developmental efforts are being witnessed from regular social media updates of the youths’ efforts to participate in the Local Government Elections, most especially here in Kaduna state; an effort worthy of commendations and should be supported by the political parties of the aspiring youths.
It’s true that insults and critics have taken us nowhere and also unacceptable to believe the fact that protests and activism are taking us nowhere after a successful Not Too Young To Run movement campaign, the #Endsars, and many more fights that were won through protests. The utterances of HE Governor Nasir Elrufai sounded courageous and had proven his love for the youths and should be emulated by all leaders and political parties. The youths should be embraced warmly and should be considered at the lowest level for grooming and startups.
I will also like to commend the leadership of the APC for coming up with the renewal and new registration process of the party membership card, which allows many youths to participate in party politics. We also call on the other political parties to learn from the APC process, most especially the PDP to also come up with favorable validation of party membership cards for our youths participation in politics, we will also like to appeal to them to sets up ways of considering manifestos and debates for aspirants as we are of the belief it will assist to kick out incompetent politicians that keep tormenting the state of our political system
The leadership of NYMiP with the mandate of youth development, youths advocation in politics, and governance will keep striving to ensure youths’ participation in the political arena across the 36 states of the nation as part of the daily efforts of our state coordinators.
Amb Gomna is Chairman, Nigeria Youth Movement in Politics (NYMiP) Kaduna State
