Our country is in a heat of a serious crisis that every one of us has been distracted as to paying attention to the multi-facet problems facing us as a country.
The rage across the country in the past weeks via #EndSARS protest, took all the onlookers aback. Nobody expected that our youths would ever develop such guts to face the men with armoury without shivering. This is commendable, and a win for the ‘Soro Soke’ generation. Though, a lot of our heroes were allegedly killed by the Nigeria Army at the Lekki Tollgate protest ground, while they were holding the Nigerian flag and singing the National Anthem, they were never deterred. They remained strong and united in pursuit of one goal.
It is no exaggeration to say that the current administration has failed the youth and also failed to keep the social contract they willingly entered into with the Nigerian people, which is one of the greatest calamities that has ever happened to Nigeria.
Following this waves of eruption that migrated across the country, where leaders at various layers are trying to adopt different approaches to steer, we see some set of youths have resolved to form a new political party as alternative to the existing powers that be, in order to take charge of the government.
While I appreciate the boldness, the audacity, the tenacity, the fierceness, the coordination, the oneness, the daring, the grace, and the ‘soro sokeness’ of my generation, I believe we must back our moves with wisdom and not with emotions.
Hence, it will be benefiting to make it known to our youths, that forming an alternative political party that will be dominated by youths is not the way out of the quagmire Nigeria is facing as a country.
It will be very pertinent to note that, politics and governance are not synonymous. Politics is a party affairs, while governance is all about people. Our youths need to know that we need a gate keeper who will ensure that, power shifted to their generation, and opens the gate of governance to them, by mentorship and inclusion in governance.
Considering the present political terrain, I have come to realize that, the only man who can serve as the gatekeeper, is someone who truly understands the feelings, yearnings, and aspirations of youth inclusiveness in governance as seen in his 2019 agenda of giving the youth 65% slot in his government and signing a pack with them.
Looking at Atiku Abubakar’s antecedence, pedigree, and how he has empowered and helped to alleviate thousands of youth from poverty, one will agree with me that, the man Atiku means well for Nigeria and the Youth.
Atiku Abubakar, who is generally seen as a liberal-minded, detribalised politician, a bridge builder, visionary leader and advocate of youth inclusiveness in governance from his earliest days of political career, was an unrelenting advocate of restructuring and youth inclusiveness in governance. He believes that, youngsters are like crops and that they have to be cultivated instead of being allowed to grow wild.
The former Vice president believes that it is in the strategic interest of Nigeria to have a very cordial relationship with the youth and their inclusion in governance will help in creating a digital representation in a digital world. This made him continue to canvass the need to alter the status quo of the inclusiveness of youth in governance, for Nigeria to achieve sustainable peace, unity, and progress.
It is very obvious that the youths are tired of the endless transition of power of old cargoes because Nigeria’s economy in their hands has been hemorrhaging jobs and the youth are particularly hard hit as the system has remained in a stagnant position in their hands, with little or nothing to show when it comes to development and jobs creation.
However, having read through Atiku Abubakar’s credentials, a business owner with a long history of creating jobs, which is something he knows about, I do not doubt his capacity to set everything right in the country and fix the mess we are in right now as it will be dangerous to have another try and error with our fragile economy by handing power to untested hands.
Atiku Abubakar has created over 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs not just in his home state of Adamawa but elsewhere across the country. Also, when looking at his private sector exploits relatives to the incumbent, Atiku has a clear record to show. No wonder he becomes a measurement of standard and a point of reference.
His past record clearly showed that He just wanted an avenue and opportunity to use the modest resources of the nation to develop its infrastructure, provide security and excellent social amenities and also empower the youth and shift power to their generation.
Making security available to Nigerian people, shifting power to the Youth and creation of jobs is part of his agenda. Because without the security of jobs, no country can have a security, which means that without jobs, there is no future for the youth and for Nigeria.
I don’t want to delve deeper into heralding the numerous achievements and contributions of Atiku to youth development and how he has impacted student communities. This is because it is audible to the deaf and visible to the blind, even the dwarf would not need to climb the shoulder of the giant to see his unprecedented contributions to National growth.
He definitely will use all these qualities and experience he possesses to create a better balance between the youths and the elders. He will also work hand in hand with the youths to develop Nigeria, that is social contract with the Youths and also unite the country that has been clearly divided along ethnic and religious lines by Buhari led government as seen in his appointments and statement of 95% vs 5%. The healing of the country lies in this unity for development.
It is my utmost belief that, our youths would also work and align with a very articulated man who is ready to build the bridge between the elites and the masses and shift power to our generation. Atiku is that versatile politician in Nigeria at this point that the youths need for the needed generational transition. He surely will be the gate opener for the younger generation.
