By Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. Nigerian youths constituted about 16.8 percent of the Population which make it about 33.6 Million within the age bracket of 15 to 35 of age .
This number makes the youth to be the most critical in the Nigerian Political process as their vote count most.
History of youth Participation in Nigerian Politics right from Independence
Youth participation in Nigerian Politics can be traced to the first generation of the country’s Politicians like Nmamdi Azikwe who joined politics at tender age of less than 20 years in 1920s ,Ahmadu Bello was also thirty years old and Awolowo was youth then.
These crop of Politicians that lead Nigeria to independence are regarded with high esteem in the Nigerian History as expressed Patriotism in their style of leader ship.
The first generation of the Nigerian Politicians that form Political Parties such as Northern People Congress NPC lead by Ahmadu Bello who was elected as the first Premier Northern Nigeria,Action Group under Obafemi Awolowo AG formed the Government of the Western region while NCNC of Dr. Nmdi Azikwe rule the Eastern Region.
Even though these leaders were considered as regional Politicians but they were the phase setters of youth that handle the Nigerian Politics.
With 1966 first Military coup d’etat in Nigeria these set of Politicians effort was distracted.
Youth Participation in Politics during second Republic
During the second Republic youth Participation in Politics was not as active like during the first Republic as Alhaji Shehu Shagari of National Party of Nigeria emerged as the first elected President of Nigeria from 1979 to 1984 when Military toppled the Government and appoints Buhari as head of State.
With return of Democracy in 1999 Nigerian youth were not much motivated to Participate in Politics from the beginning but some youth like Orji Ozu Kalu former Governor of Abia State and Ibrahim Saminu Turaki former Governor of Jigawa State emerged Governors of their respective States .
Also others went to the National Assembly such as the Imam Salisu Buhari who head the House of representative as Speaker before his eventual removal.
Not too Young to run Act ; a wake up Call to Nigerian Youth
In April, 2018, the Nigeria’s Senate resolved to transmit the Not Too Young To Run bill to the President of Nigeria.
On May 21, 2018, 55 youth organizations gave President Buhari an 8-day ultimatum to assent to the bill.
On 29 May 2018, Nigeria’s President Buhari announced in his Democracy day’ national address that he planned to sign the bill into law. He subsequently signed the bill on the 31st of May 2018.
On May 31, 2018, Muhammadu Buhari signed the Not Too Young To Run bill into law.
The Age Reduction Bill popularly known as Not Too Young To Run bill is a constitutional amendment movement led by young Nigerians. The bill was conceived and pushed by several civil society groups.
Beginning in May 2016. The groups are headed by Samson Itodo, a human right activist and good governance campaigner who is the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa.
The bill was sponsored in House of Representatives by Tony Nwulu and in the Senate by AbdulAziz Nyako. The bill seeks alteration in sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the Constitution of Nigeria, which is reduce the age of running for elective positions for House of Assembly and House of Representatives from 30 year old to 25 year old, Senate and Governorship from 35 year old to 30 year old and office of the president from 40 to 30 and independent candidature in Nigeria.
The effort that led to the actualization of this bill in to law is been considered as a land mark in Nigerian Democracy.
Abubakar Yusuf Tudun Murtala is a Nigerian youth Contesting for the position of House of representative Member for Nasarawa Local Government Federal Constituency.
Abubakar Said he was motivated by the not too Young to run act and he is trying to utilise the opportunity but described Youth and Women Participation in Politics as very difficult task considering the financial implication and how Political parties are treating them.
“I am the chairman Kano youth and Women aspirants which has more than forty members contesting for different positions across the forty four Local Governments area of Kano State”.
” There is need for elders to mentor young Politicians as they have the zeal and passion to serve their different Communities”
Political Strategy and Communication Consultant/Special Adviser to Governor of Kano State on Public Affairs
Dr. Abbati Bako,who is a political Strategy and Communication Consultant and Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on Public Affairs says there is need to provide laws that will reduce the financial expenses by Political Parties and Candidates during Political Campaigns and even rates of purchasing aspiration forms.
He added that the laws on the ground provided that Presidential Candidates can spend up to One billion Naira for Campaigns.
Dr. Bako added that Youth can not pursue political positions as their Financial strength can not be Compared with old People in Politics.
Both Abubakar Yusif and Dr. Abbati Bako said Nigerian Politics need youth and women as they form the major percentage of the Countrie’s Population as to be part of decision making.
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