#NotTooYoungToRun Bill: How Buhari May Have ‘Tricked’ Nigerian Youths

Gabriel Ogunjobi

Nigerian youth may be too hasty to jubilate the initial euphoria over achievement marked as a result of the signing of the Not-Too-Young-To-Run bill into law by the Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari.

The bill which was sponsored by Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) was signed at the Presidential villa, Abuja after surviving series of legislative scrutiny at the National Assembly.

The #NotTooYoungToRun Bill sought to alter the Section 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age qualification for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30, Senate 35 to 30, House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25.

The Bill also sought to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process.

The bill also sought to reduce the constitutional age requirement for running for elective office in Nigeria.

However, a cross examination on the speech by Buhari at the villa while signing revealed some critical needs why the new Act may not be totally what the Nigerian youths bargained for.

Consider some points below:

1. The proposal not fully met

President Buhari, in his speech revealed that the demands of YIAGA was not fully met as eligible age for aspirants for members of the State Houses of Assembly will be reduced from 30 to 25 years;

b. Eligible age for aspirants for members of the Federal House of Representatives will be reduced from 30 to 25 years; and

c. Eligible age for aspirants for Office of the President, will be lowered from 40 to 35 years; but the age limits for Senators and Governors were not reduced, as originally proposed by the sponsors of this Bill.

The President remarked that ‘this is an issue that may need to be addressed going forward’.

He also pointed out that despite the demands of the Nigerian youth have been partly consented to, there’s yet a lot to be done if the wishes of youths on inclusiveness in governance will be said to have been actualized.

‘it may be tempting for you to think of this as the end of the journey. However, it is only the beginning; there is still a lot of work ahead, towards ensuring that young people take full advantage of the opportunities provided not only by this constitutional amendment but also through Nigeria’s boundless prospects’, he mentioned.

2. Presidential seat may not be obtainable for youth until 2023

Septuagenarian President Buhari declared his intention to run for office again in 2019 sometimes in April before he had his official trip to United States.

Although the newly approved bill places the age qualification of presidency to be at 35, Buhari is very unwillingly to be ousted by the same age group.

He could have ‘bribed’ their hearts to clinch power once again.

Pay attention to another part of his speech:

‘I am confident each one of you will transform Nigeria in your own way – whether through media, agricultural enterprise, economists, engineers, or as lawmakers in your States or at Federal levels, or as State Governors – and even someday, as President. Why not?

‘But please, can I ask you to postpone your campaigns till after the 2019 elections!’

These are indications that YIAGA and other civil society groups may not need have to shield their swords just yet on delivering the seats of power to visionary youth of the nation.