Like the phrase always go " leaders of tomorrow " youth over the world are working tirelessly to achieve that mantle of leadership in their society, unfortunate the opposite is the case when it comes to Nigeria and Africa at large. Across America and Europe we've witnessed in the recent and past elections how young people assume the mantle of the leadership in their countries to move and shape their countries in a better ways. A very common example is the hero and role model of many African youth; President Barrack Obama who became President of the powerful country on earth, in his mid 40s, the Australian PM who comes into power in his mid 30s, while in the just concluded general elections in the US we've witnessed how young peoples in their young ages have win elections. And so on and so forth.Those young men and women who are making differences across the world are no different humans than us, we've same biological system and mechanisms. But the difference is their leaders, weren't too selfish and corrupt like ours. They were loyal and patriotic to their nations and worked hard to shape the future of the young generation when they leave.Unfortunately our leaders ( or rulers as I prefer to call them) have no plans for the future of our young generation, instead they use us as the operating machines to attain higher status in the society at the cost of our very own future. Today our politicians have turned the very people we regard as the leaders of tomorrow into gang leaders who serve their dirty political game. The prospect of our youth keeps on derailing by the day, from political thugs to religious fanatics to regional bigots, while our counterparts in other countries are busy trying to develop their countries and advance in science and technology and explore ways to improve their economies ours are paid to kill and destroy political opponents.

While I see poverty and lack of proper education as the major causes of lack of development amongst our youth, religious fanaticism and political bigotry along with tribalism are also a major concern we've to address to get ourselves back in the right track. The political system and corruption in the nation have caused poverty that the common man can't afford to educate his children talk less about affording expensive medical bills, while those whose parents looted our treasures are fed with golden spoon attending schools across developed countries in Europe and America.

Its is high time for our poor youth to realise their prospects and the potential in them, its time we free ourselves from the shackles and bondage we're in, to free ourselves from the modern slavery of our political elite. Youth from all over this country needs to unite to achieve a better future, irrespective of our religion, tribe or ideology we're all the same because we all have one religion and tribe and that's humanity. Those elite in the society are using religion and tribe to cause disunity among us for their own political careers. When they loot our country and share it among them selves, they don't care or ask who's a Muslim or Christian a southerner or a northerner, they cause agitation among us for their gain. So its time we forget our grudges and put aside our differences to work towards a greater future.

The peace and stability of our great nation rest in the very hands of our youth, and the question the readers will ask is how?

As defined by many political scientists; Democracy is a government of the people for the people by the people. There's so much to this definition that many of us don't understand, if democracy is government by the people then from my own little understanding its the people who have the power to determine their government. Going by the youth percentage in population we've almost 45% of the population of our country, which means we've a determinant factor in who governed our country.

We need to understand our electoral powers and use them wisely. We need not to involve ourselves in violence or insurgents to achieve this objective, but through the ballot bix by voting out those who mean no good to our beloved country irrespective of our differences.

Its time we wake up and say no to post election violence, political thugry, ethnic and religious violence, the youth have paid a big price enough for that already, its time we say a big capital NO to violence that resonates in the mind of everyone and embraced one another and live in peace. Hatred can never change our plight but instead it will only add salt to our wound.

To change this we all have to join our hands to achieve this. The blame game and pointing fingers needs to stop. We all are equal wether a Yoruba, igbo or hausa. The task of developing this country rest on our shoulders and its time we start and the earlier we do the better.

Bashar M Aliyu

A concerned citizen

basharaliyum.