EMMANUEL MACRON'S EMERGENCE AS
PRESIDENT OF FRANCE: A LESSON NIGERIAN
YOUTHS SHOULD EMULATE.

Certainly, the emergence of Emmanuel Macron
as the president of France has resulted inseveral assumptions and analysis on account of
a 39 year old emerging as a president.
Prior to the president's emergence, Macron
instigated a political movement 'En Marche' (on
the move). In line with this, one could ascertain
that the move to create a political party signifies
'an ambitious man on the move' who radically
pursues his aspirations even when his rival
Marine Le Pen was obstinate.

Viewed from this perspective, would it be right to
say such is a replica in Nigeria?

The central point of this piece is not to provide
an acceptable explanation for Macron's
emergence but rather to see if such a concept is
replicated in the Nigerian setting. As portrayed in
Nigeria, one can deduce that the reverse is the
case as Nigerian Youths are not granted possible
opportunities.

We grew up affirming that 'the youths are the
leaders of tomorrow' to further encourage the
Youths to strive and secure a better future.
However, we later discovered it was a deceptive
and misleading statement. Rather than
recognizing the Youths as part of the society
having the potentials to attain positions of
authority, the political elites continue to recycle
the same leaders.

No thanks to the political elites for instilling false
beliefs!

Nigerian Youths today have been treated unjustly
as they are used as instruments to achieve
selfish objectives, the political leaders are living
in comfortable mansions while the Youths wallow
in abject poverty.

In spite of that, the Youths have become
sycophants because of the insufficient amount
desired!. As a result, they are deprived of asking
fundamental questions on the state of the
nation. Indisputably, our political leaders are
deceitful as they make unrealistic promises!
In point of fact, the notion as ascertained in
Section 131 (b) of the 1999 CFRN that 'a person
shall be qualified for election to the office of the
president if he has attained the age of forty
years' is inapplicable as we have vibrant youths
under the age of 40 who will deliver to our
expectations.

It would be recalled that General
Yakubu Gowon assumed office when he was 31,
moreover, we do not see that in practice as the
Constitution is not the expression of the will of
the people.

The French President has indeed shown us, by
example the vision the Youths should instill; he
took the bull by its horn and left aside all forms
of criticisms to emerge as the president.
The vital question is 'are the Youths ready to
forge ahead with their plans and elect effective
leaders or we want to continue as a tool in the
hands of our so called elites!?. Let's not
continue as sycophants because of the peanuts
we desire!

As posited in Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999
CFRN 'Sovereignty belongs to the people of
Nigeria...'. Consequently, it is left to us to elect
wise leaders as election draws near.

Take up the mantle and put a stop to the
recycling modus operandi!
A message to the Youths of Nigeria.
God Bless Nigeria.

AUTHOR : Oluwayemi I. Adebayo.

excuse me why the youth, what about the embarrassing, merciless, wicked, gullible, ignorant (i can go on) generation before us..!?

.

whitebeard:
excuse me why the youth, what about the embarrassing, merciless, wicked, gullible, ignorant (i can go on) generation before us..!?

No doubt, I sincerely agree with your statement, although, if we cannot guarantee the uprightness of the generations unborn, it's now left to us to remove the ideologies our leaders have instilled.

I quite agree with d points u raised.
The 1st major flaw in our system is our constitution dat has pegged d age to contest at 40.
2. Is our electoral system dat is so expensive. If a youth is to go for a councillorship election, he will need nothing less dan 500k, he will buy declaration of interest n nomination forms dat will b around 100k, den he will banners n posters, den dey will tell him to set aside money to buy votes if he really wants to win. At d end of d day, he will b at d mercy of of godfather.
3. The brilliant n educated youths don't seem interested in political parties, leaving sycophants n riff-raffs to b in control.
4. The current political class is afraid of our generation, especially those already closer to them, though their concern may nor really b genuine but if u look at it critically, u will also pray dat d current crop of youth around dis politicians never get to power. Because dey will just b worse.
So the main point is dat we start a youth awareness n advocacy movement dat will get the right sets of youths to political offices.

shaddoww:
I quite agree with d points u raised.
The 1st major flaw in our system is our constitution dat has pegged d age to contest at 40.
2. Is our electoral system dat is so expensive. If a youth is to go for a councillorship election, he will need nothing less dan 500k, he will buy declaration of interest n nomination forms dat will b around 100k, den he will banners n posters, den dey will tell him to set aside money to buy votes if he really wants to win. At d end of d day, he will b at d mercy of of godfather.
3. The brilliant n educated youths don't seem interested in political parties, leaving sycophants n riff-raffs to b in control.
4. The current political class is afraid of our generation, especially those already closer to them, though their concern may nor really b genuine but if u look at it critically, u will also pray dat d current crop of youth around dis politicians never get to power. Because dey will just b worse.
So the main point is dat we start a youth awareness n advocacy movement dat will get the right sets of youths to political offices.

I absolutely agree with all you've written. Vibrant and intelligent individuals are out there looking for jobs, however, the elites won't give us a chance! as they want politics to be a family game!.