Not Too Young To Run But Too Poor To Run

By Damilola Adeniran

“The young shall grow” is a popular saying that features in many youth-related discussions. However, in recent times, youths are clamouring for higher stakes in leadership and positions of authority. Perhaps, the young don’t want to grow too old before fulfilling their leadership potentials; they are no longer content with being pacified as leaders of tomorrow but want to lead today as well.

Not Too Young To Run movement commenced in Nigeria, in the year 2016 and seeks to lower the age requirements for elective offices. The emergence of French president, Emmanuel Macron at the age of 39 has further fuelled the agitation for greater inclusion of youths in Nigeria’s political landscape.

The Not Too Young To Run Bill with gazette number HB. 544 was passed by the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, 26th July, 2017. If the bill is endorsed by at least 24 Houses of Assembly, young Nigerians would be eligible to contest for the office of president at 35; for state governor and Senate at 30; and for House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly at 25.

Amidst the euphoria that has followed the passage of the bill, Nigerian youths must be wary of complacency in the bid to ensure greater youth participation in Nigeria’s political space. The National Assembly might have played a key role, by passing the Not Too Young To Run Bill but it is just a departure point and not a destination – more work needs to be done, to ensure that youths can actualise their ambitions in top level Nigerian politics.

In Nigeria’s money politics, the youths are effectively priced out of running for major political positions. As it stands today, Nigerian youths lack the financial clout to challenge the older ruling class even if the age barrier is taken care of. As a result, youths are reduced to mere campaigners or thugs in electoral processes. Hence, Nigerian youths might be not too young to run but eventually too poor to run!

However, this financial impediment is not the greatest conundrum of all time, or by any means an insurmountable challenge. The older politicians might have the money but youths have the number. Ultimately, politics is a game of number! Therefore, youths must be committed to leveraging on their numerical strength to vote for youths in elections. They must shun the temptation of mortgaging their future for whatever sum – paltry or not. No wonder a new hash-tag has emerged #VoteYouthWithoutAKobo!

If Nigerian youths fail to bridge the financial gap by supporting credible, insightful, and dynamic youths to positions of authority using their sheer numerical strength as a weapon, the Not Too Young To Run Bill will be remembered as a landmark achievement that.

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