Nigerian youth do not lack the experience to run for political office. Let’s give them a chance!

By Matthew Ma

“Despite growing evidence of youth engagement and participation, Nigerian youths have yet to achieve the level of inclusion required to gain political representation. Leadership discrepancies, money politics, poor internal democracy among the older parties, and an absence of a strategic political agenda pose ongoing impediments to the younger generation to national development.”

Nigeria’s political history is not complete without appreciating the roles that youths played in achieving the country’s independence. In the years leading to independence, youths were the driving force behind the nationalist activities that led to the dismantling and eventual overthrow of colonialism and the colonial masters. Despite growing evidence of youth engagement and participation, Nigerian youths have yet to achieve the level of inclusion required to gain political representation. Leadership discrepancies, money politics, poor internal democracy among the older parties, and an absence of a strategic political agenda pose ongoing impediments to the younger generation to national development.

Before independence, the activities of Herbert Macaulay, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, H. O. Davies, Tafawa Balewa, Ahmadu Bello, Samuel Akintola, and many others in their 20s and 30s are worth celebrating. Some of these youths formed political parties such as the Nigerian Youth Movement (NYM), the first political party in Nigeria, and the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP). These young Nigerians used their talents to speak against the evils of colonialism and demanded independence. For instance, Nnamdi Azikiwe and others created awareness of the wrongs that foreign domination posed to the country and demanded freedom. Their tenacity and determination eventually saw the country gaining independence from British colonial rule on 1 October 1960.

In the years after independence, particularly during the military era, young people opposed and gallantly fought against the extravagance and high-handedness of the military regimes. In the 1980s and 1990s, an entire generation of youth and student organizations led by Omoyele Sowore and formed under umbrella organizations such as the National Association of Nigerian Students, the Campaign for Democracy, the Civil Liberties Organization, and the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights took the struggle to the streets of major cities across the country. However, despite the track record of older generations of youth, Nigerian politics is fast becoming the exclusive domain of aged politicians, as seen in the constant recycling by government officials, especially those in their 60s. For many years, particularly after the country’s return to democratic governance in 1999, youths were seen as supporters, mobilizers, or political foot soldiers hired to instigate violence, manipulate elections, and intimidate opposing parties. Though this image is not entirely the fault of the elderly generation, these groups like the idea of young people as political mercenaries rather than competitors.

In less than a year, Nigerians would come out to elect a new president to take over the reins of power on May 29, 2023. With a high unemployment rate, worsening poverty level, escalating insecurity, and rising debt burden, Nigerians are yearning for someone who will deliver. So far, several aspirants have indicated an interest in the presidential election, especially under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). While these presidential aspirants continue to flaunt their mission and vision for Nigeria from 2023, Nigerians also have expectations. They want a president that will make the country much better than where it is in terms of economy, security, development, peace, and unity in 2023. But 18 months to the presidential elections, several Nigerian politicians are being touted as messiahs that would take the country to the promised land after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari. We will recall that Buhari was also presented to Nigerians as a messiah when he contested and won the presidential election in 2015. Eight years after Buhari took office, many Nigerians are dissatisfied with his performance and no longer believe he is the messiah. With his tenure coming to an end, people and groups have started endorsing and parading different politicians as saviors. But where is the youth in all of these? Where do we stand?

Today, participation in politics tends to be significantly lower among youth than among the older population. Equally, youth representation in political processes and policymaking is often relatively low. It is rare to find a young person below 35 elected as a legislator, governor, or president. There are arguments countering and supporting the idea that young people lack the maturity, experience, and knowledge necessary for making informed decisions. Proponents in favor of this idea argue that Nigerian youth below the minimum age to participate in politics lack these qualities and can easily be influenced by adults. But is this notion the case with other countries that have younger people more in politics than adults? In one-third of countries, eligibility for the national assembly starts at 25 years or higher (as high as 45 in some places). Let us take South Africa as an example. Julius Malema, a South African born in 1981, entered the national political arena as the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League in 2008. At 33 years old, he launched the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and became its leader in 2013. He then became a member of the Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly in 2014 at the same age. The idea of EFF was to challenge the ANC in the 2014 elections. The party made an impressive debut in the 2014 elections, winning about 6 percent of the national vote—enough to give the EFF 25 seats in the National Assembly. Amongst them is Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, a South African politician who became the national spokesperson for the Economic Freedom Fighters and the party’s youngest member in the fifth parliament at 29 years old. Also is Nelson Chamisa, a Zimbabwean politician who was once the former chairperson of the national youth and the Secretary for Information and Publicity for the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He was born in 1978. At the age of 25, Chamisa became the youngest Member of Parliament in 2003. At 45, he is currently the president of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

Today, despite making up more than half of the population, young people continue to find themselves marginalized from mainstream politics and decision-making. Their struggle to gain the respect of public officials is often seen as lacking the skills and experience to engage in political activity and lead a positive change in their communities. This exclusion, combined with limited economic opportunities, leaves Nigerian youth idle and frustrated. With the signing into law of the Not Too Young to Run Bill in 2019, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, this trend seems to be changing the mentality of the youths as they begin to see the importance of their role in governance. The Bill has opened the space for increased youth participation. Amongst other changes to the electoral law, it reduced the age for presidential candidates from 40 to 35 and for House of Representatives candidates from 30 to 25 years. Today’s youth need opportunities to participate in political processes and contribute to practical solutions that advance development. When allowed to organize, voice their opinions, and play a meaningful role in political decision-making, young people will consistently demonstrate their willingness and ability to foster positive, lasting change in Nigeria. They will also become more likely to defend democracy and gain a greater sense of belonging. With a rapidly vibrant population, the future of Nigeria belongs to the youth with a vital role to play in national development. The responsibility then rests on us to ensure that we provide young people with the pride of place in Nigerian politics. So, let’s give Nigerian youth a chance!

Rev. Ma, S.J, is a Jesuit priest and doctoral student in public and social policy at St. Louis University in the state of Missouri, USA.