A non-partisan national youth group, the Not Too Young To Perform
(NTYTP) Leadership Development Advocacy group has appreciated President
Muhammadu Buhari for doing the needful in signing the re-amended
Electoral Bill recently passed by the National Assembly into law, urging
Nigerian youths to join politics en masse to fill the now very obvious
leadership deficit gaps in the country.
The NTYTP, in a statement jointly issued at the weekend by its
Convener/National Coordinator, Comrade James Ezema and the Interim
National Secretary, Mallam Bello Muhammed, said, “it’s time for young
people to venture into politics.
“With the signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law and the
position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over
the period of the struggle for a new electoral law that can legalise
digital voting accreditation and election results transmission process,
we believe that the time for Nigerian youths to join politics has come.
“INEC, over the period of the debate on the use of technology in our
elections, maintained a position that it has all it takes to deploy
technology in the electoral process. This is quite commendable and has
shown an institution that is willing to do the right thing to improve on
the process of choosing our leaders.
“With the new electoral act in place, we call on Nigerian youths at home
and in the Diaspora to join politics by joining a political party of
their choice.
“The NTYTP, in the last eight years, has been quietly building
non-partisan leadership structures across the country in its long term
strategic plan to raise a new generation of leaders who will see
performance in office as the only propelling reason for seeking any
elective or appointive public office.
“As an organised leadership training association propelled by uncommon
patriotism, the NTYTP has grown to become a well structured leadership
training platform for Nigerian youths irrespective of religious or
political affiliation from the polling units to the states of the
Federation.
“The major challenge faced by the Nigerian youths in their venture into
politics before now has been the unfavourable electoral process, which
legitimised rigging and violence as the norm in Nigerian political
space.
“We encourage all young people in the country, who are 18 years and
above, to immediately take advantage of the fresh breath introduced into
our electoral system as a result of the assented Electoral Act Amendment
Bill to become active politicians.
“Therefore, the NTYTP appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari for doing
the needful at this time and opening up the political arena in Nigeria
for competitive leadership where the electorates would now be the real
kingmakers instead of a few godfathers”, the statement read.
