Senegal Presidential Election: Nigerian Yøuths Only Interested In PAs To President Or Govs – Sowore Says
Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, remarked during an interview, that Nigerian youths appear primarily interested in securing positions as Personal Assistants to the President and Governors.
Sowore’s observation on the political aspirations of young Nigerians follows the recent inauguration of 44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the President of Senegal, an event attended by various African leaders in Dakar.
Reflecting on this development, Sowore emphasized that many youths in Nigeria seem focused on aspiring to roles as personal assistants to governors and other leaders.
He said;
“Our young people are concerned with doing what I call tag-along. They are more interested in becoming special assistants to governors or senators.
“I have not seen that clear aspiration on the part of our young people to become leaders.”
Sowore emphasized that Nigerian youths must display greater boldness in politics to emulate the transformative changes seen in Senegal’s recent political landscape.
The activist stated; “You cannot be young, mission-driven, and a visionary and go and hide your bushel under some of these old people who have no idea of how to even operate a phone.
“Youthfulness is also important in the sense that you need leaders that are alert and capable and responsive and do not have to spend half of the time in the hospital,” he said.
Recall that former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Not Too Young Bill, allowing youths to contest for the presidency and other positions.
But Sowore contends that youths should not rely solely on legislation but instead actively strive to seize power themselves.
He added;
“You take power. Nobody should give power to you by any constitutional amendment or law”.
