Saturday 6 December 2014

Paul Sylvester - The Nigerian Youth: Dead on Arrival?


Many youths today believe that the current crop of politicians are the bane of our country and for the albatross to be corrected, then only a government
of the youths, by the youths and for the youths (‘youthocracy’) must come in and take control thereby restoring our lost glory.

Today on social media and even in the real world, youths have formed groups and organized summits all seeking to achieve the same goal which is to participate and get more involved in politics. In fact, there is a recent one christened “30 Percent or Nothing”.

The contemporary youth is satisfied with his(her) social media engagements, debates, discourse and all forms of rhetoric and sees that as his(her) own form of political participation or contribution.

On social media platforms, divisive statements seem to be the norm. And on daily basis, many self-acclaimed ‘revolutionaries’, ‘progressives’ and ‘radicals’ bare their premise using ethnic slurs, enjoy tweeting against other faiths and setting in no half measure a battleground for a truculent collision course.
The same very youths are averse to criticism and correction and one begins to imagine if the “undesirable” traits which our leaders exhibit are even more prevalent among our youths, the forever leaders of our tomorrow.

Then again, those categories of youths are way better off than another group altogether—the ones who are politically and socially dead, who are only concerned about pornography and sex and possess impeccable knowledge of Kim Kardashian’s ovulation cycle. The youths in this category are not bothered about how they are governed or spare any time to discuss about a hypothetical utopian society they would have wished for.

To them, every face of a politician is a thief eating fat from the common wealth or what we now call ‘national cake’ so they rather spend the rest of their lives in a club than actually gain some political knowledge or become involved in social projects. Personally, these groups of youths whom are in large margins are the biggest problem.

It then becomes ironic when the youths who make up the largest in population statistics embedded with the inherent majority power but are perpetually governed by the minority elders. How then can we say that the youths are really a force to be reckoned with if such a high number of youths lack total interest in the political process?

We are always quick to remind the elders in power that youths make up between 60 to 70% of the population but what precise population is actually with us?

Oh! Gone are the days of true unionism; when students dictated to politicians, and they had no choice but to listen.

Gone are the days when youths had true value; when they spoke with one voice and ensured that their demands were implemented; when they fought for their rights irrespective of what the consequences might become.

Gone are the days of true journalism; when the ethos of the noble profession was strictly adhered to and investigative journalism was not sacrificed at the altar of the Naira and Kobo.

Today, most of the self-proclaimed political Voltrons and activist put up a hoax to gain fame or become assistants to mendacious politicians. Today, the student government in schools would rather emulate complex-struck politicians by travelling with convoys, a retinue of aides than carrying out their primary duty of protecting student rights.

All these things happen because a lot of youths have been bought and for those who have not been bought either live in ignorant bliss or possess a defeatist mentality to want to do anything about it.

The alarming rate of student prostitution, online fraud, kidnapping and armed robbery becomes unusual and no longer surprising. They have not gotten access to public funds yet and have already shown lucid signs of being desperate for money. God help me and help you too if these “youths’ ascend the throne of leadership in the nearest future.

I have always loathed the ‘national cake’ slang or language as it had turned out to become. Attempts to trace its origin have proven abortive but what I have come to notice is that the ‘national cake mentality’ is not limited to the ‘senior men’ in politics alone.

Ask your friend today what (S)he would do if they ever get a chance to occupy any public office with an assumption that your friend is honest, (S)he would tell you ‘I want my share of the national cake’.

Without a doubt, it’s an accurate argument that for any nation to make progressive strides towards achieving her developmental goals, measures of enhancing youth development should be a primary focus. Young vibrant minds are the vanguard for sustainable development of every society but on the other hand, the youths, heralded as the perpetual future leaders shouldn’t be the re-incarnated ghost of the very present snollygosters we despise.

The ultimate questions arising now are:

Are these set of youths going to change anything?

Are we looking forward to a future governed by these youths?

Is all these another disheartening case of a bad yesterday, worse today and a doomed tomorrow?

I leave you to answer those questions.
 
Many youths today believe that the current crop of politicians are the bane of our country and for the albatross to be corrected, then only a government of the youths, by the youths and for the youths (‘youthocracy’) must come in and take control thereby restoring our lost glory.

Today on social media and even in the real world, youths have formed groups and organized summits all seeking to achieve the same goal which is to participate and get more involved in politics. In fact, there is a recent one christened “30 Percent or Nothing”.

The contemporary youth is satisfied with his(her) social media engagements, debates, discourse and all forms of rhetoric and sees that as his(her) own form of political participation or contribution.

On social media platforms, divisive statements seem to be the norm. And on daily basis, many self-acclaimed ‘revolutionaries’, ‘progressives’ and ‘radicals’ bare their premise using ethnic slurs, enjoy tweeting against other faiths and setting in no half measure a battleground for a truculent collision course.
The same very youths are averse to criticism and correction and one begins to imagine if the “undesirable” traits which our leaders exhibit are even more prevalent among our youths, the forever leaders of our tomorrow.

Then again, those categories of youths are way better off than another group altogether—the ones who are politically and socially dead, who are only concerned about pornography and sex and possess impeccable knowledge of Kim Kardashian’s ovulation cycle. The youths in this category are not bothered about how they are governed or spare any time to discuss about a hypothetical utopian society they would have wished for.

To them, every face of a politician is a thief eating fat from the common wealth or what we now call ‘national cake’ so they rather spend the rest of their lives in a club than actually gain some political knowledge or become involved in social projects. Personally, these groups of youths whom are in large margins are the biggest problem.

It then becomes ironic when the youths who make up the largest in population statistics embedded with the inherent majority power but are perpetually governed by the minority elders. How then can we say that the youths are really a force to be reckoned with if such a high number of youths lack total interest in the political process?

We are always quick to remind the elders in power that youths make up between 60 to 70% of the population but what precise population is actually with us?

Oh! Gone are the days of true unionism; when students dictated to politicians, and they had no choice but to listen.

Gone are the days when youths had true value; when they spoke with one voice and ensured that their demands were implemented; when they fought for their rights irrespective of what the consequences might become.

Gone are the days of true journalism; when the ethos of the noble profession was strictly adhered to and investigative journalism was not sacrificed at the altar of the Naira and Kobo.

Today, most of the self-proclaimed political Voltrons and activist put up a hoax to gain fame or become assistants to mendacious politicians. Today, the student government in schools would rather emulate complex-struck politicians by travelling with convoys, a retinue of aides than carrying out their primary duty of protecting student rights.

All these things happen because a lot of youths have been bought and for those who have not been bought either live in ignorant bliss or possess a defeatist mentality to want to do anything about it.

The alarming rate of student prostitution, online fraud, kidnapping and armed robbery becomes unusual and no longer surprising. They have not gotten access to public funds yet and have already shown lucid signs of being desperate for money. God help me and help you too if these “youths’ ascend the throne of leadership in the nearest future.

I have always loathed the ‘national cake’ slang or language as it had turned out to become. Attempts to trace its origin have proven abortive but what I have come to notice is that the ‘national cake mentality’ is not limited to the ‘senior men’ in politics alone.

Ask your friend today what (S)he would do if they ever get a chance to occupy any public office with an assumption that your friend is honest, (S)he would tell you ‘I want my share of the national cake’.

Without a doubt, it’s an accurate argument that for any nation to make progressive strides towards achieving her developmental goals, measures of enhancing youth development should be a primary focus. Young vibrant minds are the vanguard for sustainable development of every society but on the other hand, the youths, heralded as the perpetual future leaders shouldn’t be the re-incarnated ghost of the very present snollygosters we despise.

The ultimate questions arising now are:

Are these set of youths going to change anything?

Are we looking forward to a future governed by these youths?

Is all these another disheartening case of a bad yesterday, worse today and a doomed tomorrow?

I leave you to answer those questions.


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