Charly Boy asks: Are Nigerian youth qualified for leadership?

Charles Oputa, Nigerian artiste and activist better known as Charly Boy, has questioned whether the present crop of Nigerian youth are qualified to serve in leadership positions.

The ace musician posed the question in an open article published a few hours before the senate passed the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill on Wednesday.

The ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill sought to amend the constitution to reduce the age qualification for the office of the president to 35 years; governor to 30 years; senate 30 years; and house of representatives to 25 years.

Charly Boy’s open letter reads in part:

“It is highly encouraging to learn that the Not too young to run (NTYTR) movement embarked on a national day of action on Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at 8am at the Unity Fountain, Abuja to mobilize support for the passage of the proposed amendment on age requirement for running for elective office.

“When the bill passed the first and second reading, there was an outburst of emotions across the nation, particularly among the youths.

“It felt like our lawbreakers were beginning to take their job seriously, though they would later prove themselves as irrational, unserious, and greedy.

“The best memories of our nation were when young people embraced nationalism and fought for the liberation of their enslaved country.

“A succinct look at global leadership trends today shows that the role of leadership is tilting towards the younger persons; France, Belgium, Qatar, North Korea, Tunisia, Greece, Canada, Poland, Georgia and so on. Economy-wise, these countries are doing great, too.

“The big question, however, is – are the present crop of Nigerian youths qualified for leadership? To that, I say a big YES. When we talk about our youths, all focus must not be on the youths residing in Nigeria alone.

“Globally, many young Nigerians are doing the country proud and excelling in their different fields of endeavour. And YES, I have met some exceptional young Nigerians within the borders who have qualities of good and visionary leadership.

“Young people both home and abroad need to know that they are at war, the nation has been captured and the fate of our nation now lies in the hands of our exceptional youths. To sit down and hope that the freedom of young persons will be given is just like hoping that Dollar to Naira will fall to one to one. It will never happen. Not with the type of impunity that is now on public display.

“Nigeria’s politrickians still consider our vibrant youths as being wet behind the ears to be given a fair shot at leadership. Though it is now an open knowledge that our lawbreakers are playing a key role in dragging us back on the journey of national development – because of their vile and evil greed.

“I dare to say that the docility of our youths has produced many legislooters incapacitating the youths with no iota of conscience. We should give kudos to the courageous youths who decided to champion the noble cause of challenging the status quo that has eternally failed.

“This is to encourage the front-liners of the #NotTooYoungToRun bill; let this not be the end of the bill. The struggle must resume to rescue our nation from the hands of the corrupt gangs in power.

“To sit down and hope that the freedom of young persons will be given is just like hoping that dollar to naira will fall to one to one. It will never happen.

“Nigeria’s politrickians still consider our vibrant youths as being wet behind the ears to be given a fair shot at leadership.”