In a recent interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 election, lamented what he perceives as Nigerian youths’ lack of ambition in politics, contrasting it with the emergence of 44-year-old Bassirou Diomaye Faye as the Senegalese president.
Sowore criticized Nigerian youths for primarily aspiring to roles as personal assistants to governors and other leaders, rather than actively pursuing leadership positions. He emphasized the need for Nigerian youths to exhibit more audacity and vision in politics to emulate the transformative change witnessed in Senegal.
According to Sowore, Nigerian youths should not settle for being mere followers or aides to older politicians who may lack the dynamism and responsiveness needed for effective leadership. He stressed the importance of youthfulness in leadership, advocating for leaders who are alert, capable, and technologically savvy.
Despite the enactment of the Not Too Young Bill, which allows youths to contest for various political positions, Sowore argued that waiting for legislative changes is insufficient. Instead, he urged Nigerian youths to seize power actively, emphasizing that true empowerment comes from their own actions rather than legal amendments.