The Youth: Can Presidential Candidates Afford To Ignore The New Political Force In Town

Posted: March 14, 2011 - 02:32

whataboutusnigeria.org

Last year Ngozi Okonjo Iweala uttered a fact that sent a shudder through the youth population of Nigeria. She let the youth know that they comprised a whopping 70% of Nigeria's population. Seventy percent?? How could this be? The schools were dilapidated, the youth unemployed, and none of the leaders looked like they'd been a youth in decades.

This fact sent a ripple through the Nigerian Youth community, forcing them to ask themselves how could a majority so vast have been impoverished for so long, and how had this strong majority allowed this to happen? The youth had been clearly underrepresented,  but one glaring question rose up, how many of them had actually gone out to vote?

This year the youth were determined to change that, coming out in droves, with estimated 65% of the electorate said to be between the ages of 18 and 35. This election wouldn't pass them by without them casting their vote. Then there was another dilemma. Who would they cast their vote for? Nigerian politicians have historically spewed vague rhetoric, never really saying what their plans were to fix Nigeria. It only made sense that the unseen change matched the unheard platform details, making every politician seemingly the same as the next. What did it really matter, the elections were rigged anyways.

For this reason Vote or Quench, Sleeves Up,  Enough is Enough, Stand Up Naija, and various other youth led organizations came up with one phase of a solution in educating the youth electorate on the candidates, in the form of "What About Us?" the first Youth centered Presidential debate taking place on the 25th of March in Abuja.

The concept of the debate is to give the young electorate and the candidates an opportunity to engage in a direct conversation, with questions gathered from Nigerian youth at home and in the diaspora. The candidates were chosen by the Nigerian youth in a poll that ran for two weeks, along with the subjects to be addressed.

Anyone will tell you the process of arranging a debate is not an easy one, certainly when it comes to getting candidates to attend. Understandably so, with the schedules and campaigning, but I would like to examine what risks candidates risk  take by shunning the youth debates.

I will have to repeat the estimate that 65% of the electorate is estimated to be between the ages of 18-35 years of age, a demographic that What About Us has  directly engaged with. A demographic that trusts the information divulged by the coalition as all groups involved are those that serve as sources for news, and have worked to push for youth empowerment.

When four of the six candidates publicly accepted the invitation to debate of various social media outlets an immediate spike in their fans was detected. A level of mutual respect was felt, with the candidates understanding the value of the youth, and the youth understanding that these candidates actually cared about them, and wanted them to know that. Not by holding a rally, or giving them bags of rice, but by agreeing to come on a trusted youth created and managed transparent platform.

With this being said, for a candidate who the youth have selected to hear speak in a debate to not show up, may be seen as a slap in the face, especially with the promises of wanting to engage the youth on a social media platform, but shying away from doing so in real life.  With the debate reaching millions of young Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, absentee candidates would be donating the youth vote to the present candidates, as they will be able to speak sincerely to the youth, from a platform that the youth look to for information.

You didn't have to watch the NN24 Vice Presidential Debate in order to hear about the empty podium where our current Vice President should have been standing.

This defining act could be what will separate the new brigade of politicians from the old. The new politicians with the conviction and confidence to address the youth unprepared. The new politicians that are forward thinking enough that they realize the power in what used to be a silent majority. The new politicians who genuinely care to address the concerns of the youth.

So the only question left to ask those candidates with pending invitations: Do you think it is in your best interest  to ignore the devastatingly large and powerful youth electorate that is loudly screaming "What About Us?"

Some food for thought.

Please check out www.WhatAboutUsNigeria.org for more information.

http://saharareporters.com/article/youth-can-presidential-candidates-afford-ignore-new-political-force-town