Obong Victor Attah, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State on Friday said it is time for old generation politicians, including himself to vacate the scene and groom younger Nigerians with fresh ideas to take Nigeria to its rightful place in the comity of nations.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday INDEPENDENT, at his residence in Lagos, 80- year old Attah also said he will champion a movement now with people of like minds to ensure that new set of younger leaders take charge of the nation’s affairs from 2023.

The elder statesman said the search for younger Nigerians with the ability and integrity to lead the country must begin now that the 2019 elections is over and not when the 2023 is just around the corner like it happened during the just concluded general elections.

According to him, the consequence of the 2019 elections is that power has returned to the common man and they can freely elect their leaders without being influenced or coerced by godfathers as witnessed in Ogun, Imo, Kwara, Oyo and other states.

“My conclusion was that the 2019 elections is the triumph of the common man. The consequence of the election has brought about certain things that Nigeria badly needed. Power has come back to the people.

“All the arrangements that used to be made in Abuja, Lagos and other places came to nothing. The people insisted that this is what they want and that is what they had. It is obvious. A governor will stand up and say ‘this is my preferred candidate but the people said ‘No’! Look at Ogun, Kwara, Oyo, Imo and even Akwa Ibom. Before now, people make arrangements and forced it down people’s throat, but now they couldn’t do that again.

“So for me, the consequence of the 2019 elections is that power has returned to the common man, the average Nigerian. More than that, I believe it is going to spell the death of APC, PDP and the military influence that we have always had.

“It is a new beginning. Those of us in the old formation have been wiped off from the political scene. Let a new Nigeria grow now. Let a new Nigerian spring forth with fresh hands to administer things properly but it has to be a federal system that is given them to administer, not this fractured system.

“A new order must begin now to take over from APC and PDP in 2023 and that new order must begin now. You have to form two movements. The first movement is to reestablish this country as a federal system and it must be nationwide, supported by the international community.

“Second, you begin to search for somebody outside of the establishment, not the ones brought about by the establishment. If this country will search for a president, with all due respect and honour for the dead, would we have selected a person like the late Umaru Yar’Adua whom we knew was sick almost to the point of death. But the system brought him up. Now, that system is gone.

“So, the country must now look for people they believe have the ability and integrity to rule this country. By the time Buhari’s second tenure is coming to an end, certain names will become household names and we will know from these names, the person that will become our next president. We will begin to groom them from now, not when election is approaching.”

https://www.independent.ng/older-politicians-should-vacate-scene-for-younger-nigerians-attah/

The younger ones are not yet ready, they are still slaying on Social media.

Youth Government is overrated.

Should we give space for people Like Sowore, Adeyanju abi MC oluomo? The truth of the matter is Our Youth aren't ready, sorry to say. They are still throwing banters at each other on nairaland.

Younger ones like Yahaya Bello abi?
we don't need a young or old leader, what we need is a decent leader, a technocrat and a leader who cares about the masses, whether he is young or old is not an issue.

Are the youths any better

E no go make any difference na...... when na dia yahaya bello and mc oluomo type dem go gather put for dere and level headed and competent youth will not be given the opportunity to get there

When will Nigerians realize it's not by age but by the heart of the person?
The US president is more than 60 years old but the country is booming.
Age doesn't matter but the man himself

Those claiming the Youths are not ready are only stating where they stand individually.
Your views aren't that of the majority.
For the fact that you keep seeing the unserious ones among the youths gives us a bigger idea that you guys are living in the realm of unseriousness.
Or you guys were paid to poison the youths minds against the youths?
I am ready to play my part as a Patriotic Youth, I believe the same of the Nigerian Youths out there.

God Bless Nigeria.
God Bless Nigerians.

Like we

I disagree youth should earn there seats. The constitution was already amended to allow 25 year olds to run for certain offices.

Right

Very truth sir. Sadly, the younger aren't even reliable. The few we have tested shows to be nothing but disappointments at the end of the day.

8GB Atm card flash drive for #1000 only. Check my signature below.

Show example Mr Attah, then Buhari might follow suit

... yeah time for yahoo crew 2 take over

When they appoint you minister and you reject the offer,the. i will listen to you

You too mr attach
pay your chinese suppliers through us with wechat and alipay fund

donstan18:
The younger ones are not yet ready, they are still slaying on Social media.

So true

na wahala...

For where...... when d youths have refused to hustle bt to lick d ass in d name of job hunting.

Well spoken.

younger politicians are not ready yet, Trust me. Not if they are stil supporting the older ones And killing themselves for the older politicians..


Until they stop licking the asses and Rallying for the older politicians They are not ready yet.

Our youths are lazy all dey knw how to do is to give shares and like for looters.....

Don't quote Me

See this Idiot that became Governor at the age of 65, is he just Realizing that the younger generation should be given chance. HYPOCRITE

Whr is sowore today
Pius anyim pius
Since dem born me till now
He still dey thr
Bastard chieftans

They should keep waiting for older politicians to vacate sit for them

Children are the leaders of tomorrow is a scam, since I was born I have been seeing the same old politicians been recycled.