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Not Too Young To Run is a campaign which first started at the United Nations session for democracy in Geneva Switzerland some years ago.It is aimed to reduce the age limit for all youths to be able to run for elected offices all over member Nations including Nigeria.
There's these assertion that as much as the young people are not too young to take up family responsibilities, get married, join to serve his nation in the military and other security platforms, posses electoral eligibility to choose or elect their parliamentarians who will represent them at all public and political offices, then, these same youths are definitely NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN.
This initiative is aimed at the promotion of young people's rights.This is to enable the youth from all works of life run for public offices and address the issue of age limitations and discrimination across the world.
According to AHMAD ALHENDAWI, The UN youth Envoy, he says "If a person has the right to vote, he or she should have the right to run for office."
Not too young to run: The Nigeria's Case...
The case of not too young to run in Nigeria is not too different from other Nations perse. The political space in Nigeria since her Independence in 1960 to date, the elderly have continuously recycled themselves even though they constitute just 2% of the 50% of the voting population in the country. It is a situation where the elderly profits from the docility of the youths and their less affections for politics and other public offices.
The youths are often recruited as political thugs and mecinaries with little tokens to forment trouble during an election against a perceived strong opponent, and are usually dumped after their victory is announced by the election umpire.
Upon the launch of 'NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN CAMPAIGN' at the United Nations office in Geneva, the advocacy has received immense acceptability in Nigeria and the campaign begun sometimes last year 2017 with a legislative bill sponsored by HON. Tony Nwulu of the House Of Representatives and Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The campaign was spearheaded by Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA).
The house of Reps speaker, Hon. Tony, the sponsor of the bill and other legislators.
Youths mobilising support for the bill.
So far so good, about fifteen (15) states have passed the bill, but the entire bill require twenty four states out of the thirty-six (36) States to have passed it before it is transmitted to the president for Assent.
While these processes are being awaited, the youths awareness to vying for political offices is rising by the day. For instance, Mr. Garba Adamu and Sowore of the Sahara Reporter have all declared interest to run for the seat of the president come 2019 general elections. But we must not fail to realize that, it's wholly acceptability would come after the 2019 elections. It is going to be a tall order to change the narratives. But like its said, a journey of 100miles start with one step. So, slow and steady the youths will definitely get there.
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