Yar' adua's Death and the Fate of Nigerian Youth

In Nigeria, youths are more or less, like ordinary material objects that
our intellectually bereaved and morally porous politicians use to achieve
their selfish and villainous political ambitions. The youths are so
neglected by the leaders in such a way that their welfares are not taken
into consideration. They can only be remembered when they want to use them
to facilitate political unrest. They are hired as thugs, political
assassins, kidnappers, ballot box snatchers and robbers by these political
"big weights".

Everyday, Nigeria looses as many as 40 youths due to their involvement in
crimes as a result of the frustration they feel from the hands of most of
our leaders. One thing that baffles me is that, as these youths are killed
like this, the evil politicians who sponsor them go scotch free.

The late President must be commended by the way he carried the interest of
the youths along, though most a times, only good are said of the dead, but
here, without any form of sentimentality, Yar'Adua's short stay in office
impacted positively in the lives of Nigerian youths. Despite that Nigeria
was handed over to him when the nation was at the verge of disintegration
and ruination; he managed to pool the country together despite his serious
health challenges.

He was known for the enthronement of law and electoral reform. The
greatest achievement will be seen in the light of the amnesty granted to
Niger Delta militants, through which many lives of our youths especial
those living in the troubled Niger Delta have been saved.

Furthermore, now that the President is dead and a new President, Goodluck
Jonathan, has been empowered, what does the future hold for Nigerian
youths who have a bit been salvaged from their protracted humiliation? How
prepared is President Jonathan to tackle the challenges of Niger Delta as
he is from that place or is he going to leave the militants to bounce back
to action? Is he going to carry youths along as the former President did
or are they going to go back to square one from where they were elevated?.

It was very unfortunate that the health condition of the late President
created a serious leadership hold up or logjam in the country, which made
Nigeria to be known as ONE COUNTRY WITH TWO PRESIDENTS. Now the leadership
vacuum has been filled, how prepared is Nigeria to move to the next
level?. Though, it is not as if we skeptic about Goodluck's ability to
deliver, but just that the situation that brought him in as the President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a very challenging one.

The acting capacity which he was found was made possible due to section
144 and 145 of 1999 Constitution which says that the president should
transmit a letter to the Senate if he is going on medical vacation and if
the President can't discharge his function as a result of ill health, the
Vice President should take over in acting capacity.

The same constitution in section 146 (1) has empowered Mr. Jonathan as the
President. This section says: The Vice President shall hold the office of
the President if the office of the President becomes vacant by reason of
death or resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity. It is no longer
questionable whether he has the right to be President or not, since the
constitution has empowered him, the question now is, can he turn our
fortunes for better especially that of the youths by creating jobs,
addressing unemployment that have ravaged this nation and turned our
youths to armed robbers, kidnappers and perpetual job seekers? Other
issues he should look at are electoral reform and elections.

As 2011 general election is fast approaching, how prepared is Mr. Jonathan
and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deliver a
credible election, especially now that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Maurice
Iwu, has been removed?. What is the likelihood that whoever is going to
replace him may not be prepared enough as the time frame before the
election is so near?, I think the experience that Iwu has under his belt
may have helped in championing free and fair election come 2011.

However, somehow, the action of the president is good because it will
allow fresh blood to be injected into the system. But, are we sure that he
is not going to use another over used or recycled politician to fill in
the post?. However, some youth organizations will continue to ask the
President not to leave the future of this country to the hands
unscrupulous politicians who do not have our interest at heart; such
programs like Youth for Technology Foundation's "YES, YOUTH CAN!" are set
out to ensure that youth feel empowered and play a role in this democratic
process.

Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF), an international citizen
organization, has stepped forward to play its part in ensuring that
Nigeria has a free, fair and credible election in 2011. YTF is doing this
through different enlightenment programs, by going to all the whole LGAs
and wards, to enlighten people especially the rural populace about the
forth coming election. Yes, Youth Can! also teaches them how to vote, why
they should vote and why citizens should avoid selling their vote because
their votes are their power. The people cannot come out to challenge any
bad government if they fail to vote. They let them know the different
penalties involved should anyone indulge in electoral fraud.

The youth are hereby appealing to Mr. President to make sure that our
votes count this time around. Mr. President should take note that the
youths say that we are tired of using recycled politicians, our youths can
do it and even better if the chance is given to us. Other youths who have
not joined this movement, should.

I am calling on the young people not to wait for opportunities to be given
to them by our villainous politician because they will rather die than
relinquish power to anybody, rather, the youths should, as matter of
urgency, scout for opportunities to enable them change this nation for
better.

NWORIE EZEKIEL CHINEDU, YOUTH FOR TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION (YTF), OWERRI NIGERIA
08034136646

Ezekiel Nworie
Program Coordinator, Owerri Digital Village
Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF)
#2 Nworie Lane
Owerri, Imo State
Nigeria
p: 08038665843
e: ezekiel@youthfortechnology.org
http://www.youthfortechnology.org
.... Delivering to the Community.