Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, while delivering a keynote address at a virtual interactive session to mark the 2020 International Youth Day, in Abeoukta, says that Old People should stop Ruling Nigeria, adding that youths need to be active in politics if they hope to have any meaningful representation in governance.
He urged youths in Nigeria to actively take part in politics so as to take over governance from the older generation.
“Unless you squeeze out those who are in the office and those who want to remain in office perpetually, some after the age of 80. Unless you squeeze them out they will not want to be out,” he said.
The former President added that active participation of youths in politics will ensure they can demand participation in government and influence decisions right from party levels to governance.
He said: “The type of change I am talking about, that I believe we can all embark upon is to subscribe into the constitution of political parties in favour of youth. Or if you like it you call it affirmative action in favour of youths.
“For instance, if you say, in the constitution of a political party, not less than 50 per cent of those who hold executive office within the party will be less than 40 years of age.”
“You’re just making sure that people that are 40 years of age will hold 50 per cent of executive offices within the political party.
“You can even go beyond that and say that people who will be put up for election, not less than 50 per cent of them, will be less than 40 years of age. That’s affirmative action. That’s positive discrimination in favour of youths.
“I am saying this because if you leave it entirely for people to do it for you, nobody will do it for you. You have to do it for yourself.”