By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The leadership of Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), has enjoined Nigerian politicians that are above 60 years of age to forget 2023 Presidency.
The noted, “In Nigeria today, our civil service (rules) will not retain any individual above 60 years of age no matter his/her experience, and value the said distinguished/accomplished individual will add to our system, this is enshrined in law.”
In a statement issued by the forum’s spokesman, Comrade Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem, added, “Most renowned civil servants with outstanding history of bravery, accountability, transparency and fairness in service can later be engaged by the Federal, State or Local government either as consultants, advisors or Committee members to help formulate and restructure policies that will bring about efficiency, and effectiveness in service delivery.
“In developed nations, people of such age and experience are mostly engaged in charitable activities, free consultancy services, and all forms of selfless services to their nation and populace. Furthermore in developing nations, the people in the above mentioned age group are actively involved in all forms of forgeries, desperate moves in aspiring for Presidency to which he/she has no value to add, their aspiration for such office is wrongly motivated.”
It lamented that most of Nigeria’s political elites sources of wealth/ ideology is questionable, their state of health is unknown, primary, secondary and university/polytechnic attended is unknown while their age, name, parents and even state of origin are disputed.
It said that available research carried out by Concerned Northern Forum (CNF) proves that most of the country’s political elites inclinations to be Nigeria’s President are for reasons not beyond lust for power and affluence, with no blue print on how to tackle the enormous challenges bedeviling us as a nation.
According to the group, the time has come that they are ready to give their mandate to those candidates below 60years, with good manifestos, and the political will to help address the country’s immediate, short term and long term problems that have made the country the poverty headquarters of the world despite its population and abundant resources which ordinarily should be advantageous to the country at any rate.
The forum asked, “Why should a blessed country like Nigeria with renowned boardroom czars, world class leaders of thought, entrepreneurs and respected professors in all specialisations be ignored for less qualified people with questionable records as candidates of political parties to rule the country? This is a question begging for answers! Or could it be that our nation is designed to fail naturally in leadership?!
“We’re faced with brain due to the effect of poor leadership caused by the so called Land Lords of Nigeria who see nothing good in developing the nation, but developing themselves at the detriment of over 200million people. Their support base is their fellow corrupt politicians who will do anything to see them emerge so they will continue their normal divide and rule.”
It noted that the time is now and 2023 Presidency for the electorates should be based on an individual’s personal competence, health status, integrity and credibility would determine his marketability and electability, adding, “We can’t not allow the recycling of old politicians who have been instrumental to the enormous problems facing our country from 1999 till date to still come and lead us to more uncertainty. Their achievements is looting, Corruption etc. You don’t expect a man to be doing same thing and you expect different results.”
The group observed that the nation deserves a cosmopolitan leader, who is full of energy, vast in ideas and one who understands the politics of trade, international affairs and foreign policy.
“Our Elites should stop making a mockery of the “Not Too Young To Run” which is meant engender development of young, vibrant, articulate leadership, but what we see from the body language of political parties is a vision of “Not Too Old To Rule,” the statement explained.
It called on progressive youths to take advantage of the not too young to rule to participate actively, not only in social media, since no polling unit exist here, rather they should help mobilize and sensitive their fellow youths on how to get permanent voters card, become a member of a particular political party, aspire for political offices, and equally encourage others with leadership potential with either finances, free consultancy services or soft words of encouragement, which will demonstrate that we are ready to lead the nation.
“We are the trustees of this nation and the epoch of been spectators is over, we have to participate actively because available records shows that out of the over 84 million registered voters, the youth represent over 51% and our nation with a fast growing population of over 200 million, with more than 60% of the people under 25 years of age, we can and the time is now to unerring our past and have a nation that can stand tall among Committee of great nation against all we presently witness today,” the statement assured.
