Nigerian Youths : A case for 'Political Participation Revolution'

"The future of every nation is written many years earlier in the hearts of its youth."  Lai Labode

I became the Chairman of the PDP Youth circuit after a difficult but successful merger with the League of Young Democrats led by Chief Raymond Dokpesi jnr, a true patriot who later became my deputy . After one of our late night meetings we sat down to ponder on the challenges we faced in our bid to open a new chapter in Nigeria's history of youth participation in politics , leadership and political party management under the umbrella of Africa's largest political party . The People's Democratic Party .

We pondered into the night how to inspire 10 million Nigerian youths and Persons Living With Disabilities to join the PDP and help to start a new era of transparency , responsiveness , institutionalization of clear party ideology and full blown democratic practices .  We peeped into the future together and saw a new PDP that became the new rallying point for all Nigerians who want change , good governance and enduring progress .

We contemplated the baggage that came with association with a political party of which despite its unrivaled national outlook and politic successes  has ruled nigeria for thirteen years and left a sour taste in the mouths of most if its people . We were saddened that our party like other political parties has not been able to effectively connect with the aspirations of the ordinary NIGERIAN after all these years .

We worried greatly about the poor nature of Nigerias political systems management and the ease at which youths are used to destroy their own future by politicians .  We agreed that all NIGERIAs political parties needed urgent reforms and the youth urgently needed a new orientation to harness its potential to facilitate the change .

We reflected on the overall effect of  abysmal level of mistrust , animosity and intolerance that has come to form the core characterization of our relationships with one another as a youth constituency .

We shared stories on how hostile the youths are towards one another and how wary we are of ideas that aren't directly generated by ourselves .  We realized how much Nigerian youths are largely individual champions who know very little about so much  in an age where information comes  at a phenomenally  fast-pace and makes proper processing painfully difficult .

We easily agreed how shameful the Nigerian opposition parties have faired in their narrow comfort zones of either a one man , ethnic or religious party politics . We discussed ACN and its seeming good records in Lagos and wondered if the largest financial short change of the people  in Africa's history isn't happening under the watch of NIGERIA's most 'performing' ACN governor .

We touched on the power of social media , its challenges , illusions ,  limitations and most importantly its unprecedented , unparalleled potential as a platform that can be used  to inspire millions of people to take actions associated with the need for change .

We concluded that the Nigeran Youths from all works of life needed to start a 'Political Participation Revolution' if they really want to quicken the pace of change and set NIGERIA on a 'never to return path of glory' .

We agreed that the Nigerian Youths needed to be more organized and focused , there is need to reduce our desire for change into a clear vision , mission and a set of practical objectives .

We identified the following six items as most crucial for real change to occur ;

1.  Strategic and Organized 'Invasion' of all Nigeria's Political Parties by youths .
2. Support the Establishment of the Coalition of Youths in Nigeria's Political Parties to set and manage the standard of youth participation in politics and leadership .
3. Establish clear ideological bases within the political parties and push for institutionalization of ideas that fall along agreed ideological lines .
4. Establish a funding structure that is sustained by the ordinary people who share established ideology .
5.  Invest In massive , comprehensive voter education on participation , responsibility and patriotism .
6. Establish debate platforms across the country for cross fertilization of ideas .

Nigeria is a reflection of a morally weakened country with a large number of disgruntled and bitter people been led a largely  insensitive political class whose top priority is to hold on to power at any cost .

Nigeria is a country of  too many unseen hands , we are a nation so blessed yet so poor , a people so happy yet so sad  . NIGERIA has never needed its youth more than at this time to rise up to the challenges facing our country .

Are the people really ready for change you may ask? The truth is that the people have always been ready. History has thought us that the power of the people can be unleashed for positive action by a genuine firm and visionary leadership that runs strictly on the fuel of majority consent of the followers and good example . We cannot expect Change if are not willing to inspire it  .

We owe a duty to our people  to inspire a new generation of leaders and followers alike in preparation for the challenges and opportunities ahead ,  we owe a duty to Nigerians yet unborn to build a nation founded on truth, justice, fairness and most importantly on ethics or values we are not ashamed to publicly propagate.

The time is ripe for more practical solutions , the time has come for the youths to take a stand , organize and make sacrifices .Enough of the fault finding and bickering about how bad the leaders are . We must begin to turn our talk to actions that can impact our lives positively .

I have no doubt in my heart that Nigerian youths will eventually rise to the Occasion , there is something big brewing . Social media is helping to build political consciousness and expression as never seen before in our nations history.  Social media has become the gasoline of change delicately waiting for a fire to start.

While we all cannot be politicians , we all have different roles to play if we must guarantee a prosperous future for ourselves and generations of Nigerians to come . We all need to Do something , join a political party or some association ,  register to vote or write write a blog . Join peaceful protest and civil actions .  The youths can no longer afford to just talk or criticize , we must start to act collectively and decisively to bring about the change we so desire .

The time of the Nigerian youths have come to rescue the motherland , the youths must embrace the times with great humility , deep sense responsibility and integrity of purpose powerful enough to positively and  permanently re-write the story of an emerging World Power !

We have begun that process in the PDP , we encourage all youths who have soft spot for any other political party to do same . We are no longer just criticizing , we are acting to fix our party and our country . We envision a new nation and we are paying the price for it .

We see hope , do you ?


Lai Labode (CRMA , Harvard)
Chairman , PDP Youth Circuit and Chairman National Youth Movement for Constitutional Review .