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In millions of classes across the nation, the most detailed and most influential description of modern democracy is the same offered in November 1863 by former United States President Abraham Lincoln – democracy as a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
It is said that Lincoln might have heard the expression from others such as British politician Benjamin Disraeli who expressed the sentiment in a statement: “…all power is a trust; that we are accountable for its exercise; that from the people and for the people all springs and all must exist.”
Fundamentally, such trust can be understood as the citizens’ support for political institutions even amidst their uncertainty or vulnerability. Because it is considered a necessary precondition for democratic rule, a decline in trust fundamentally challenges the quality of representative democracy. As an integral part of a functioning democracy, low trust can also have direct and severe consequences for the quality of representative democracy, its institutions, and its actors.
Trust in political institutions can be extremely challenging for young Nigerians, but recent events have shown that apathy or disconnection has become impractical.
Obviously, voter turnout in Nigeria tends to be significantly lower among youth than among the older population. But no one should ignore the organizational and structural obstacles that prevent many young people from willfully participating in the electoral process. But in the things that count, there is clearly light at the end of the tunnel.
After years of canvassing for administrations to relax some of the stringent and discriminatory provisions of the constitution, the ‘Not too Young to Run Bill’ was finally signed into law. In addition, the National Assembly recently amended the constitution to allow independent candidature, and anytime soon, Nigeria could also implement its commitment on 35% affirmative action on women inclusion in all arms of governance.
A few days ago, Rinsola Abiola, a young activist and daughter of late politician and businessman, MKO Abiola, announced her candidacy for the APC’s National Youth Leader position. Already a youth leader and a party stalwart, she was the female youth representative on the party’s board of Trustees. Having joined in 2013, she also helped establish the APC Young Women Forum, and has spearheaded numerous efforts, partisan and non-partisan, to expand the opportunities available to youths and women within the party’s structure and other important national institutions.
In a month recognized by the United Nations to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, Rinsola’s announcement, and for many female aspirants across the country, should reflect the new direction of youth participation in politics – youths should fight and get what they deserve.
Democracy is a collective concept, a system of government where the highest power resides with the wishes of the people. But when the people fail to make their wishes known or do not enjoy an enabling environment to implement their wishes fully, the power is left in the hands of a few who can choose to remain unaccountable for as long as possible.
Based on her record and grass-root initiatives, it is clear that Rinsola is very compassionate about the people. During her campaign for the House of Representatives in the last election, she explained that her “campaign has been centered around the people. Ultimately, it’s the people that decide; it’s the people that vote; it’s the people that we are elected to protect”. Interestingly, she joins the race at a time when both citizens and institutions are focused on how to strengthen inclusive politics and ensure that Nigerian women have healthy ground to participate, contest for public office and win elections. When was the last time Nigerians got the National Assembly to backtrack on bills and amendments due to a protest?
Over decades, youths have faced numerous barriers that have hindered participating in the development and political processes that affect their lives. Nevertheless, many others have taken the necessary steps to make their feelings known by taking to the streets and leveraging online social networks to express themselves and campaign for change. They have protested against corruption, poverty, despotic administrations, and inequalities for many years.
Unfortunately, youth representation in Nigerian politics remains very low, but having stalwarts elected into the high echelons of the country’s ruling party will create meaningful participation, especially for millions of young women in the country constantly looking out for a role to play.
For Nigeria, we need to build and maintain a robust and all-encompassing mechanism, which is mandatory to elect a competent government committed to practicing true democracy.
Through representatives like Rinsola Abiola, a young woman who has demonstrated her capacity to secure the empowerment of young people, APC youths and other young Nigerians can be hopeful of attaining their representational goals. For politics and representation driven by accountability, experience, and people, it is time to work with professionals in politics who understand that the national, and therefore, the youth’s interest is at stake. Youths ought to run politics to achieve set goals, not just for the sake of it.
