By Badmus Olatunde Olabode
The demise of another sage in the person of Dr. Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme brought an end to an era in our political diaspora.
Our politics is devoid of real intellectual astute fellows that can fight it out with these old half-breed opportunists who pounced on our political terrain with little or no ambition of what politics is all about rather than to shrink us dry off our few resources which are not even self sustaining for the wailing populace.
Where and when are we going to see another Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, Sir Amadu Bello, Usmane Dan Fodio, Sir Tafawa-Balewa, Anothony Enahoro, Pa Obafemi Awolowo, Christopher Okigbo, Mbonu Ojike, Sir Ladoke Akintola, Taye Sholarin, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Dr Herbert Macaulay, the Alvan Ikoku of this world, who served and practised politics with rare courage, discipline and knowledge of the game.
Where are we going to see soldiers/Generals of such Courage like Yakubu Gowon, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu and Muritala Muhammed who served as heads of state in their early thirties, a man of magnificent respect free from ethnical junta or religious bigotry, in showing mercy hence magnanimous in victory in Yakubu Gowon after his triumph in the 1967 civil war.
Today a losing politician spend our money going back to tribunal to fight against a lost election result while the winner thinks it is clearly his mandate rather the voice of the people, a bunch of social political miscreants.
Are the youths ready for the political landscape they crave so much for? Does it not bother you the few privileged semi-bred politicians are governing on the multitude large number of well groomed intellectual minded citizens? Are we really using the inferior against the superior? Are you not bothered? I am !!!
The first generation of politicians we had ( they are all gone now) are selfless, educated, hard-working and revered in their pursuit of perfection and political disposition of public duty, we are conjured in confusion and tension of political odyssey where the youth yawn for positions but aren’t conversant with the responsibilities entitled or expected of such positions, failure is bound to proceed such ire decision borne out of frustration to vote out the old rather than change the political perception of our dear country.
Today I challenge myself and fellow youths of this country, to get ourselves refined in other to vie for these positions and participate actively in the political affair of our nation when the time is ripe, when we won’t be questioned about political integrity or excellence.
Maybe we are knowledgeable but we are not yet refined as my friend and brother will say in the name of Sadiq Kayode Yusuf.
To run and achieve a good political base we the youths need to have a steadily but solid educational background which will ultimately prepare us for political leadership, you may have multiple degrees and never imagine finding yourself in politics, sometimes we are born leaders other times we are made, but we don’t choose our destiny, often fate made us whom we happen to be.
“While we don’t want the Old to govern us anymore let us prepare ourselves not to turn out like these cycle of old ignoramus” which we crave for their departure so bad.
