Akande doubts ability of Nigerian youths to takeover leadership

Amidst the clamour for full participation of youths in Nigeria politics, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, has said that most Nigerian youths are full of negative tendencies and doubts the possibility of getting good and sincere future leaders from among them.

The APC chieftain said, “The core value system is no more in place. We have a mixture of the negative and positive tendencies among the youth. The negative tendencies are more than the positive ones. How do we get sincere and good future leaders in the present society?”

This was contained in a statement Akande made available to newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Monday, during a meeting with the Yoruba Patriotic Movement. He added that the impact of the military in Nigerian politics has now become worrisome.

He said, “The military orientation of controlling the political parties after leaving power is still being practised by the democratic government in the country, whereas it is the people of like minds who ought to get together, form their parties and run them the way they deem fit.

“Political party grew in hierarchy system in those days; whether you are a tailor, bricklayer, carpenter or whoever, you must learn politics through your political party. You cannot just rise up and say you want to become this, you want to become that in the party. You must learn first. Political party was a leadership training ground.

Read also: APC spokesman says party still has 2 yrs to perform, lambast PDP

“But the military deliberately killed that system. The military wanted to be controlling the political party after they left power. The military created political party like the NRC and the SDP during Babangida’s time; we would remember the five leprosy fingers of the late General Sani Abacha. After they left government, they made regulations for the political parties through the civilian government.

“Up till date, military mentality still pervades our political system. Unfortunately, those who knew the military plan have left the political party leadership. Majority of the people at the leadership of the political party are those who grew or learn politics in the military arrangement.”

Akande’s position on Nigerian youth is coming at a time the “Not Too Young to Run Bill”, which allows youths to run for any political position in the country has been passed by the National Assembly.

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