By Chuka Onwumechili
Nigeria is expected to be home to 380 million persons by 2050, making it the third most populated country in the world according to the United Nations. Of course, that is made of a huge youth population, given that the population was barely 55 million in 1980. Presently, 90 per cent of the 220 million population is 50 years or younger.
The dire situation is heightened by a growing poverty line where four out of 10 Nigerians live below the line, according to World Bank data. Worse still, a Nigerian online publication recently reported that Nigeria’s 2022 debt servicing is 18 per cent higher than projected revenue.
The figures are clearly alarming, but they serve as the background for the country’s national elections that take place early next year. It is an election for the future of Nigeria and its burgeoning youth population. Obviously, this election cannot be business as usual. There is an urgent need for drastic change to save the future of Nigerian youth population. Failure to do so will unleash a catastrophic situation of which the signs have already begun to emerge. The incessant murders, kidnappings, minor crimes and other agitations are not just happenstance.
They are results of the situations described above. The connections are unmistakable. However, it will get worse if the country fails to make the right choices to get on the right path to economic recovery that will help solve most of its problems. Yet, we must remain worried that rather than focus on the plight of the vastly growing youth population and the growing economic problems, most of the aspirants have chosen to highlight ethnic divisions! Why should a candidate’s ethnic background matter? Does that put food on the table? Will that ensure the creation of jobs? We know or should know that the answer is that such focus on ethnicity will not solve any of their country’s growing problems.
Over the years, the ethnic calculation has been a critical aspect of winning Nigerian elections. This has often led to ensuring the zoning of critical and top-level positions across ethnic lines. Nevertheless, focusing on such zoning has not led to elected officials paying significant attention to ethnic groups, including those that have overwhelmingly put them in power. Instead, candidates largely focus on self-enrichment and opening doors for friends and family to loot the treasury. The result is that the burgeoning youth population continues to suffer – poverty, joblessness, and insecurity have festered.
Thus, it is time for the youth population to take the proverbial bull by its horns. They can vote for those who focus on creating opportunity for youths but also pay attention to their records. Let us take a look at the three top candidates. The PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, recently announced plans to introduce a $10 billion economic stimulus for small and medium enterprises as well as to privatise state-owned entities.
The APC candidate, Bola Tinubu, has yet to officially unveil a manifesto but his aides indicate that the manifesto will focus on the economy, corruption and security. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, has traversed the country touting economic revitalisation and has publicised several visits overseas highlighting sources for such revitalisation.
Although Atiku Abubakar has focused on worthy job creation via privatisation, most Nigerians will not easily forget the accusations that trailed his leadership of privatisation while serving as vice president under Olusegun Obasanjo. Of particular importance were accusations levied by El-Rufai, who worked closely with him on privatisation. El-Rufai noted meddlesomeness and, according to a story in an online medium, the meddlesomeness suggested pecuniary interests. In a recent Channels TV interview, Atiku gleefully told his audience: “Are my friends not entitled to be rich?”
No one says that they cannot be rich but surely not at the expense of tens of millions of Nigerians. But who are those friends that are entitled to be rich? Atiku is 75 years, and his circle of friends are sociologically within that age group; which means that most of Nigerian youths are not part of it and are unlikely “entitled to be rich”. Yet, it is most of those youths that are suffering and are impoverished today. Bola Tinubu, although officially 70 years old, there is belief in some quarters that he is at least a decade older and social media have made note of that with numerous memes about his candidacy and age.
What is known, however, is that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was previously governor of Lagos State.
As for Peter Obi, he was Governor of Anambra State for eight years. There were no significant corruption charges against him and his temporary impeachment in office was, significantly, because of his failure to inflate the state budget. Inflation of budget is rife in the country as state officials seek avenue to pilfer state funds. He has been accused of stinginess. He has not denied this. Instead, he states that he is focused on saving state funds to build the state. He has continued to make claims to funds saved for Anambra State that has grown in an investment fund, and the governor who replaced him in the state used the saved funds to build a commercial port.
Thus, while each candidate can easily produce shiny manifestoes touting a plan for the country, it is important that Nigerians Shine Dem Eyes. Your past is just as important as your future. Nigerians must examine and remember the past of these candidates as they each make a decision in the coming elections. Their future depends on it.
*Prof. Onwumechili wrote from Howard University, Washington DC, USA
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