Naija

#YoungNotTimid

Day #1

People argue that bitterness conveys the truth better. Others think that the truth itself is bitter and so needs to be said in euphemisms. However way, the truth is communicated. That's my business this morning.

An average Nigerian youth is interested in getting into school, probably owning a business (especially in this season of entrepreneurship rush), make plenty money to secure his future. That's it. When it is time to decide national or grassroot leaders, he either shows no interest at all or think, "Nigerian politics, tufiakwa (sacrilege)".

Now, the biggest sacrilege is you not getting involved. Nigeria has come to a point where this thing no longer belongs to one person or a certain set of people. Nigeria is a sick child in need of good leadership. We'll drown all the more if we do not act fast and act now.

I intended to arrange this post better than this and create well structured paragraphs with connecting thoughts but I can't seem to do that again. I would just write because I need you to understand a few things directly from my heart, dear Nigerian youth.

Politics, politicking, commenting on political and social issues (let's leave voting out first) and all, are not for a certain group of the society. Those who are doing what we are supposed to do generally are now called activists. This should be our general function. Everybody.

If we don't give strength to our voices, we will keep having leaders who are double our age. When we don't even say anything about anything in Nigeria, who will listen to us when few of us talk? Most of us can't even state correctly the names of those who hold important offices in Nigerian leadership. That's dangerous. We cannot get involved in a system we are not even interested in.

Look, we will get to a point where we'll have to live on the streets and nurse our dreams there if we are not careful. Don't say God forbid. Those young people who have been sent out of their homes by herdsmen crises, terrorism and communal clashes, you think they don't have dreams? They dream from the bush now.

We spend our time on Instagram catching fun and people are dying everyday. Nigerians like you and I. You stay in the West or East so you think you're safe cos you don't think you can be affected. For you, life is good. You're kicking. When you hear news of how hard life is in the North, you shake your head and say 'eyahhh' and move on. You think it won't get to you? Ask Benue State whether they once thought so too. Ask some communities in Enugu. Ask the community in Ogun State which primary school children were slaughtered like chickens.

This is it. We cannot continue like this. The only way to fix this is to sit up and feel responsible for our country. Get involved. Speak! You're an artist, speak through your work. You're a musician, sing Nigeria. You're a writer, oh we need you to write hope to the victims of bad leadership in Nigeria and indict irresponsible leadership. We need young people to rise and make National decisions.

We can achieve a lot by speaking up. Social media is a good platform. We can achieve a lot from this space. The #NotTooYoungToRun Bill which was passed into law made me know so.

Anyway, don't celebrate the Not-Too-Young-To-Run law. It's of no effect in Nigeria. It won't work. Let me tell you now. Such amendments should be reflected in the Constitution before they can be enforceable. I'm trying to say that Constitution amendment is what we need not some law of no effect. No law which is inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution is enforceable. (Section 1(3) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria).

You see that's there is much to do. We can't afford to be quiet in a time like this.

Las las, goan get your PVC. That's how we know the big boys and slay queens.