Comr Eze Onyebuchi Challenges, Nigerian to be Actively and Positively Involved in Politics . By CHiNONYEREM IGWE, Abuja

The Chairman of National Youth Leaders of All Political Parties in Nigeria,Comr Onyebuchi.Eze,has advocated conserted efforts to realize the youths active participation in politics in Nigeria.

He made the call  during one day  Hang Out with Journalists in Abuja in collaboration with youth leaders from different polical parties with  the theme: "The Place of Nigeria Youths in Political Discussion  in 2027and Beyond ' 

Accordingto Comr Onyebuchi,during his speech presentation the youths have have watched politicians traverse the country, aligning and realigning ahead of 2027 with no identifiable plan for the youths either before or after the elections. We have also watched the youths fight themselves in defence of these politicians without knowing their place in this whole political discussion ahead of 2027 and beyond.

He further, reminded Nigerians that the gathering of this maginitude  was not just another political gathering. It was a timely national conversation. A moment of reflection and awakening on the future of Nigerian youths within the political and governance architecture of our dear country. As we all know, any nation that ignores its youths is a nation that has made peace with stagnation. Any country that continuously sidelines the energy, creativity, innovation, courage, and strength of its young people is a country that has unconsciously declared war against its own future,he stated.

  He expressed his confidence on the Nigerian youths who constitute over 60 percent of the population,which aalsol form  the engine room of the nation. 

"We determine election outcomes. We dominate the labor force. We drive innovation, entertainment, technology, sports, business, activism, and national conversations. Yet, we remain grossly underrepresented in the real corridors of power and governance." 

He believed it was not merely about politics. It was also about the future of Nigeria. It was also about whether the youths of this country would continue to be used as political foot soldiers or finally become political stakeholders.

He was clear in his assertion  that the independence of Nigeria was fought by young and vibrant Nationalists like Nnamdi Azikiwe, Anthony Enahoro many others who championed the country independence The struggle for the independence of Nigeria was driven largely by vibrant young Nigerians who believed they had a future to build Nigeria.

Comr  Onyebuchi frowned  at the moment,young people of these era are  merely praise singers, social media warriors, or political thugs. The present  youths should  be nation builders and fully involved  themselves in active politics t. They should be contributors to the political evolution in Nigeria.

 I his words "In their time in leadership positions, Nigeria progressed. Our educational institutions worked. Our currency had value. Our economy inspired hope. Our leaders built infrastructure. There was vision. There was direction. There was national pride. But somewhere along the line, the Nigerian youths stopped being viewed as partners in leadership and became tools for political conquest." 

He also lamented for decades , our youths have been used during elections and abandoned after elections which does not go well to the youths advancement in politics.

During campaigns, they are called: “The leaders of tomorrow.” After victory, that tomorrow never comes. We are remembered when rallies are needed.

We are remembered when social media battles must be fought. We are remembered when crowds must be gathered. But when appointments are shared, policies are formulated, opportunities are created, and power is transferred, the youths disappear from the table." 

Comrade Exe Onyebuchi went ahead to narrate the painful part of it whereby many leaders no longer empower youths with character, competence, and capacity. Instead, what we increasingly see is the empowerment and compensation of youths who merely make themselves available to be used for ungodly acts.

He encouraged  the youths that they should take bull by the horn and this the time for that great change and emmancipation.  Nigerian youths cannot continue to reward loyalty above competence and expect development ,he opined. OnThe Nigerian youth is no longer asking: “What will you give us before the elections?” No. The question now is: “After winning power with our support, are you prepared to support the transition of power to the younger generation of Nigerians?” That should be the real conversation. Let me make this very clear today before the media, the nation, and the entire world. The youths are not saying that they must produce the President in 2027. We are saying that Any presidential candidate seeking the support of Nigerian youths must publicly commit himself to the conversation of youth inclusion in governance and generational transition of Leadership of the country back to the youths.

We, the National Youth Leaders of all political parties in Nigeria, are speaking today in one voice:

We want the next President of Nigeria after 2031 to be a younger Nigerian below the age of 60. This is not rebellion or disrespect to our elders but responsibility to the future of this country. Of course, the elders have contributed greatly to nation building and we respect their sacrifices. But the leadership of Nigeria must be treated like the leadership of our personal businesses where we don't just plan to retire but prepare our children or the younger generation to take over from us while we rest to offer only wise and experienced counsel.  

The world is changing, Technology is changing.

Economies are changing.

Governance is changing.

Artificial Intelligence is changing the future of work and leadership. Nigeria cannot continue operating with old political habits while expecting modern results. We have brilliant young Nigerians everywhere In technology, business, academia, governance, innovation, media, agriculture etc. What is lacking among Nigeria Youths today is not competence. What is lacking is access to leadership opportunities.

And this is why today’s conversation is very important.

Now let me talk directly to the media. Members of the press, where have you truly stood in this conversation of youth inclusion?

How often do you intentionally use your platforms to project competent young Nigerians to the masses? How many youth voices are consistently amplified on your television stations, newspapers, radio programs, and digital platforms? How often do we see media institutions deliberately helping credible young leaders build national visibility? This is a call to the working answers to the above questions. 

He challenged, the media remains one of the strongest gatekeepers of public perception in Nigeria. The media can humanize or demonize generations. The media can create visibility, amplify youth leadership conversation and present Nigerian youths in good light. We are therefore appealing to you: Join this conversation. Drive this conversation. Help Nigeria and the world to see Nigerian youths differently. Do not present young people only when crime happens. Don't remember youths only during protests or violence. Show the nation the competent yo nation the innovative youths.

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He discl6 that future of Nigeria will not be built by accident,but be built intentionally.

And if the youths continue to be ignored, frustrated, unemployed, underrepresented, manipulated, abandoned, and made to struggle, then Nigeria itself will continue to struggle.

*The era where youths are used and dumped must come to an end. The era where youths are mobilized only for elections but excluded from governance must end. The era where the future of over 200 million Nigerians is negotiated without the youths on the table must end. We are not here to fight anybody. We are not here to insult anybody. We are here to demand a future. A future of Nigeria that will be driven by the youths in their prime strength and vigor and not at old and weak age"

Comr Onyebuchi believes is an undisputed history that no nation rises above the quality, participation, and hope of its young people. The Nigerian youths are ready for leadership. Ready to contribute, to govern, to build and to transform this nation beyond expectations.

We are tired of being told that power is not given but taken. We all know that once we advance in age, we don't wait for our children to contest our positions before taking over the leadership of our personal businesses. You handover to them volunteerily because you know that it is their time to take over the steering while you rest.

Also speak, the  Hon. Minister of Youth Development, Comr Ayodele Olawande who was present at the Programm told participants that leadership.should also starts from local. He advised youth to see themselves as leader of today and challenged the fight for powers peacefully.

The Hon. Minister used the opportunity to answer questions about the future of Nigeria youths,. He urged the youth to by for positions in their respective political parties..