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Youth: Tools For Political Achievement By Okoro Akpoidevo .O.
The Nigeria democracy is still a young one and is therefore often describe as such, Nascent Democracy. But one has to hope and keep praying that it is here to stay and would not evaporate like smoke on the path of a stormy wind, because it has unusually brought along some fad able scars that took much of its toll on a particular set of the populace------the youths, electorates or not; whose idleness has prompted to venture a task to make a brisk life from the short-lived trouble-laden electoral opportunities.
Indeed the coming and subsequent arrival of our democracy and of-course its attendants’ routines (of voting, election, governance…) has created a feeling of insecurity that saturates the entire voting periods.
Had those seeking gubernatorial positions and those fighting for placement in the senate and other political placement been popular; this politician-design and nationally practiced technique------thuggery would not have surfaced. Their unpopularity is known to them, just as their failures at the polls is visible to them. These frustrate them into a determination of success at all cost; they are therefore bent on achieving their aims whoever would suffer along the way.
To do this they precede the release of INEC’s timetable by widespread recruitment and activation of desperate but informal political extension workers or representatives, with the sole aim of weird victory for a zero-electorate candidate. Among other things, these naive youths hustle for their parties especially by stealing ballot boxes, creation of rancour and tensed voting atmosphere; they intimidate co-voters, a situation that degenerates into chaos the state of things they anticipate to see them through. The political thugs’ missions are mostly a possible one because they are always armed with guns and ammunitions twinned only in western movies; they displace the police and other law enforcement agents with great ease, more so when one realizes that their life-sucking-employers are those that would eventually emerge; controversially though as winners beside political God-fathers who are all well placed citizens of the society. Ironically, the temporary employment created by the ordeal seems to absorb the dangers it simultaneously poses to the youths.
Whatever the case might be, when all said has been done, after all the fat- envelops has flattened with no traces but with the ‘metal-tools’ still in the possession of the ‘galants’; the only alternative left is to put them to use again this time by perpetuating the well known act------armed-robbery. The government has therefore succeeded in breeding and introducing new thieves that would roam and devour unsuspecting citizens who they somewhat prevent periodically from exercising their franchise at the polls.
What baffles one mostly is the serious but contradictory effort with which the government aimed at wiping or reducing crimes and electoral malpractices to the lowest level. It is indeed very surprising to here elected officers sound like this. In a sense, it seems as though the memory of their method of acquiring power sublime as they attain their set goals; only to reform as their regime comes to a close so as to enable them re-indulge in such practices to secure a second pass-card.
Therefore, It is not surprising that the government uses transparent kid-gloves in fighting arm-robbery related crimes; knowing fully well that they have not been able to absorb all their loyalties from miserable livelihood by creating job opportunities for them.
While we hope that the law enforcement department would be able to abate the electoral-related geometric-progression of crimes in the society, politicians that are warming up should seek good and approve means to enter government house; there is nothing for the Nigeria youths to actualize in thuggery (either carried out in favour of any body, party or not).
This is a ‘tree problem’ that needs the attention of every individual to resolve, most significantly, by abstaining from all forms of electoral short cuts. The polity is already over-heated, needless for government and politicians to add to it.
Movement for youth actualization international (MYAI) is saddled with the responsibility of enlightening the youths to shone political thuggery in the forth-coming election comes 2007. Politicians are just there to use the youths to secure their seats while they enact laws that will destroy your future ambition, as youths we have to rid our the country from all forms of political aggrandizement; the philosophy of using youths to attain their political power need be giving a new definition in order to stamp out their political ideology of grab all that comes our way.
OKORO AKPOIDEVO O. NATIONAL SECRETARY,
MOVEMENT FOR YOUTH ACTUALIZATION INTERNATIONAL (MYAI) A NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION (NGO) IN NIGERIA akpokoros@yahoo.com, mfyai@yahoo.com
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