Come August 17, 2016 Peoples Democratic Party’sdelegates from the six geopolitical zones will troop to Portharcourt, the capital city of Rivers state to elect their National leaders to serve in the 21 offices within the National Working Committee(NWC) of the party.
Already, some heavyweights have signified interests in various positions even before the release and adoption of the Zoning Committee arrangement. That is a story for another day.
Among all 21 positions, the offices of National Chairman, National Publicity Secretary(NPS), National Youth Leader(NYL), Deputy National Publicity Secretary(DNPS), and Deputy National Youth Leader(DNYL), are of great concern to me as an individual, a youth and a strong campaigner and promoter for an independent #PDPOnlineDirectorate across all level of the party i.e. National, Zonal and States levels.
A CASE FOR THE YOUTHS
While the African Charter and Nigeria Youth Policy define youths as a group of people within the age bracket of 18 to 35, political leaders seem to have another definition of Youths.
In fact, the PDP in 2012 appointed a 60year old Malam Umar Garba Chiza as National Youth Leader of the party, though it would later settle for 30 years old Abdulahi Maibasira for the position in 2013, the ruling party as at then would later appoint a 57 years old Boni Haruna as "Youth Minister" the following year contrary to the Nigeria definition of "youth".
Even the appointment of former youth leader Abdul Maibasira was done by same party elders and not the youths he was supposed to represent.
The case is not different from the ruling APC. The APC in 2014 appointed a 44-years old Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo-Waziri as NYL, and in 2015 the government of Buhari appointed a 52-years old Solomon Dalung as "Youth Minister", meanwhile the party was promoted and voted to power by young people that utilised the power of social Media.
A PARADIGM SHIFT
In the past, when candidates declares for positions under the party, young people out of either sentiment, passion or relationships with candidates take to their devices loaded with data to solicit, defend, and campaign for votes for/on behalf of their candidates.
Successful candidates assumes office, he liaise with Governors, Senators, Ministers, Party Elders and even former office holders under their respective organ, in order to capture their interest within the party system.
However, the young guns within the party that are touted as “Next Generation Leaders” are not considered in the scheme of things. Party leadership carries on without causing change in the system to favor the general youth population.
The only positions reserved for “Youths” are the offices of National Youth Leader and Deputy National Youth leader. Even these positions are hardly occupied by Youths nor decided by Youths within the party, the same group they were supposed to represent.
With no youth wing in Nigeria political parties, some young people across different social media platforms on July 20 kicked off the campaign for an independent #PDPOnlineDirectorate within the party and at ALL levels, because it is incontestable that the online platform is the only tool the youths control, and an independent directorate controlled by, and decided by the youths is a good step in the right direction.
The advocacy is not restricted to the online directorate but also a demand of 20% slot in all party appointments, election tickets at all level, after due consultation with members of the online wing that controls the directorate.
This is to append a future for young people and allow for opportunities for political growth.
Therefore, instead of the tradition of sticking neck for contestants for various offices within the 21-member NWC of the party, specifically, the offices of National Chairman, NPS, NYL, DNPS, and DNYL, young people through the online community MUST extract commitments from candidates running for the aforementioned offices to ensure the implementation of #PDPOnlineDirectorate at all levels of the party.
It is even a shame that in 2016, we are still deep-neck into finding a footing for Youths in politics when South Africa, India, USA, Hong Kong, Brazil etc not only have well structured Youth(and student) Wing, but are also parading youthful party leaders like Joshua Wong, the 19 years old General Secretary of Hong Kong's opposition Demosistō party; Mmusi Maimane, the leader of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance, who became his party's National Spokesman at 31 and elected Party leader at 35 in 2015; Mr Julius Malema, the leader of South Africa opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, who assumed the position at age 33 in 20More in the United States, Matt More of South Carolina was appointed State Chairman of Republican party at the age of 31 in 2013. The list is endless.
It is only in Nigeria that people refers to 50-60 years old as "youthful" and "future" Presidents.
I implore ALL PDP young supporters and members of online community to see this campaign for a #PDPOnlineDirectorate as a collective responsibility for our political future. I appeal to young people in other partjes to join hands with us in causing a change in the system. Nobody will be youths forever, hence, we must use our time to create a sustainablr legacy for those behind us.
I commend Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the PDP for pledging support for the #PDPOnlineDirectorate, while implore others to take a cue from the oil rich state.
Finally, I want to reiterate and appeal to the youths to only endorse candidates that would pledge to recognize their structure in the system.
Anything short of this should be NO DEAL!!!
May God Bless Us All and Bless Nigeria
May God Bless Young People of Nigeria
Power To The People
Inioribo Tamunotonye alias Tonyebarcanista, a strong campaigner for #PDPOnlineDirectorate wrote from Abuja.
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