To a typical Nigerian sexagenarian and many above this age (especially those who have found themselves in leadership positions), hard work means spending 12 hours working on the farm and thrusting the hoe deep in the soil with every ounce of strength. It is measured in "man-hours" and not "efficiency" - that's the mentality.

He is too traditional and resistant to 'change' or any improved way of livelihood other than that which he is already conversant with. He prides himself as "too genius" and "experienced" to learn anything new. He is proudly "old-school".

Not all though, quite a few have lived up to modern trends. Unfortunately not many of such are leaders or interested in leadership positions.

And this mentality have been passed unto the younger generation. If you are of middle aged in this country, then the phrase "go to school, study hard, graduate with a good grade and get a good job" shouldn't sound alien to you.

That was then, when there were white kola jobs (as they called it), when the population was not yet 195million, when the FOREX from crude oil sale was enough for everyone.

Our leaders became lazy and they infected the entire populace with this laziness. No real efforts were made to diversify our economy and create jobs for the exponentially growing population. With crude oil, we thought ourselves as rich.

And that is what led us to the precarious situation we find ourselves today.

As the years progress, the country continues to sink deeper and closer to abyss. Yet we have this same crop of analogue leaders taking us through that same road we undertook and found ourselves where we are today.

These are the people who think corruption can be fought by the frowning face of an old wrinkled president (they call it body language) or by invading peoples homes Gestapo and recovering 'looted cash'.

They have this mentality that rehabilitating a few roads and building a few bridges would end poverty in the land or money accruing from the exploration of earth resources should be enough to be shared and everyone would live comfortably.

But beyond our shores and our continent, the world is evolving fastly and developing at a pace most of us term as "metaphysical".

The world economy has moved through the age of hunter-gathering, Agriculture and Industry to Technology, knowledge and innovation. Many nations of the world are now investing more in technology, health, infrastructure and knowledge; good educational systems that give birth to skilled entrepreneurs vis-à-vis strengthening state institutions that can stand firmly no matter the tsunami.

And where are we?

Still in that age where a president lists 'rehabilitation of roads' as a big achievement and we clap.

The world has moved from that age of 'hard work' to 'smart work'. You don't have to thrust so hard, all you need do is develop a tool that does the work or learn to use it properly.

We (the youth) have been sold that crap narrative that we cannot be any good if given the opportunity to lead and some of you have swallowed that hook, line and sinker.

But that's a very fat lie!

A typical Nigerian youth is a born entrepreneur, an intellect on his own who struggles without any good tools yet succeeds. I have come across quite a good number of youths who have worked so hard even in this hell called a country accomplishing boundles feats.

Only a patriotic, compassionate and rational leader with a youthful mindset that employs creativity and ingenuity in governance is capable of turning around the fortunes of this country.

The era of stiff minded polithiefcians-cum-bullies who are only interested in power and power alone is over.


Now is the time!! All youths awake!!

#Get your PVC. Vote in better leaders#