NOT-TOO-YOUNG-TO-RUN ACT: PMB AND THE JOKE ON NIGERIAN YOUTHS.

NOT-TOO-YOUNG-TO-RUN ACT: PMB AND THE JOKE ON NIGERIAN YOUTHS.

By Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese

President Buhari just made history by signing the not-too-young-to-run bill into law, amidst cheers from Nigerian youths.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly in 2017 to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the constitution and it seeks to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to 30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.

However, in the assented bill, the age qualification for governor and senate was retained at 35 years contrary to the demands of the Not Too Young To Run  Movement.

While many youths are celebrating this feat, deep down within me, I'm not excited.

The scenario is akin to moving a treasure from  the 3rd floor of a high-rise building to the 2nd floor, in a building  that has no staircase or ladder, claiming that one has empowered the young man who requires to take possession of it by reducing the height where the treasure lies!

Now that the age of contesting election has been reduced, of what benefit is it to youths who cannot raise the required sum to pick up nomination forms?

Following the recently amended electoral act by the Senate, the nomination form  for Presidential is N10 million, gubernatorial N5 million, Senate N2 million and Rep N1 million. 

While aspirants to state Houses of Assembly, Local Government Chairmen and Councillors will pay N500,000; N250,000, and N150,000, respectively.

Where then lies the benefit of reducing the age of eligibility to contest, without reducing the cost of  nomination forms to amounts easily affordable by the average Nigerian youth on the streets?

Here is my proposition for the cost of nomination forms; Presidential N300,000, Gubernatorial  N200,000, Senate N100,000, Rep N75,000, House of Assembly N50,000, LG Chairman N40,000, Councillor N30,000. 

With this proposed reduction in the cost of nomination forms, more credible young people will be able to come on board, while the political parties  will still be able to generate a lot of money from sales of forms because of the large number of aspirants who will come on board. 

President Buhari sarcastically added a caveat when speaking on the law, that "Nigerian youths should wait till after 2019" before seeking to run for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He really didn't have to spell that out because with the current cost of nomination forms, Nigerian youths will have to wait till African parrots begin to grow teeth!

Until the cost of nomination forms is significantly reduced to what an average Nigerian youth can afford, the passage of the not-too-young-to-run bill by the Senate and its signing into law by President Buhari, is nothing but a joke on Nigerian youths!

A New Nigeria is possible 

Together we can 

#YesWeFit 

Dr Thomas-Wilson Ikubese is the Convener of YesWeFit Revolutionary Movement and a 2019 Presidential Aspirant, on the platform of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN). www.ikubese.org‎

Do you have any information or event for ABUJAPRESS to publish or cover? Kindly Call us on +2349075556668 or send us message on Whatsapp number +2349075556668 or send us an email [email protected]