On Fixing Nigeria & 2023 Race!
The truth is that the political class are already preparing for 2023, but unfortunately, we, the youths and our Young Contenders are sleeping on a bicycle!
This is the time for YeleSowore, Fela Durotoye, @MoghaluKingsley, BankyW, Tuface_idibia, and other young progressives to make strategic alignments.
And I am not talking about choosing who to be the next president, in fact, no youth in Nigeria right now should be running for the office of the president except you are just chasing clouts!
The power to have a positive change in Nigeria right now is not in the presidency; the presidency is essential, but it’s out of reach at the moment for the youth coalition.
The power to change Nigeria right now lies in the “NATIONAL ASSEMBLY!”
Yes, The National Assembly!
There is a lot that can be done via legislation, and there is a lot of power in the national assembly if the right people make it there.
Imagine the Youth Coalition having the majority in the National Assembly, both Senate and HoR!
Having the majority means the coalition will get to choose the Senate President as well as the Speaker for the HoR.
Imagine that power!
This means the National Assembly in control of the youth coalition can summon anyone; I repeat anyone; be it ministers, IGP, Service Chiefs, anyone, and if they refuse to show up, you can write to the president!
Now, Imagine the President is also complacent, you could even initiate a move for the impeachment of the President! (https://lawpadi.com/process-impeaching-president-nigeria/)
Think about that! Impeaching the president if he is not performing or corrupt!
Being in charge of the National Assembly gives you such opportunities even the President will have to be on his toes, else his ass could be on the way home.
Remember our sham of a constitution?
Yes, we all know the current constitution of this country is a Sham, a lot of things in it doesn’t make sense. It gives too much power to the Presidency!
Wait, how do you fix it??
By being the lawmakers, if you own the majority of lawmakers in this country, the youth coalition can initiate the amendments of the constitution and we can make it better and useful for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians! (https://lawpadi.com/the-process-for-amending-the-constitution-in-nigeria/)
Fixing the constitution will help us fix a lot of things in this country! If we can remove all the confusions and bottlenecks created by the present constitution, we could have a better Nigeria.
If you look at a lot of problems facing Nigeria right now from poverty, to insecurity, to police brutality and so on… you will see that having a strong legislative arm could fix most if not all of these issues.
A strong legislative arm will make everyone seat up because there will be transparency, accountability; and corrupt individuals won’t be fainting when under probes and we won’t be hearing “issokay, honourable issokay” during investigations!
I will recommend that all youths with political ambitions come 2023 should focus on their constituencies and try as much as possible to build their brand there, then run for Senate or HoR or State Assembly.
I am not saying this will be an easy task, it won’t be easy but it is doable.
BTW, I believe it’s easier to go head to head with cabals in a constituency consisting of 5 local govts to win a seat at the National Assembly compared to fighting for votes in 774 local govts to win a president seat; the latter is quite unrealistic right now.
@YeleSowore, Fela Durotoye, @MoghaluKingsley, @BankyW, and co can pull resources together, or even crowdfund to support credible candidates to get into the National Assembly under one umbrella party in 2023 and we can effect the change we want in Nigeria gradually.
If you think this is a good idea, now is the time to act!
You can’t show up 3 months to an election and hope to win your constituent voters over, kolewerk!
Thanks for reading!
J.A.
P.S. these are my thoughts and opinion, you could agree or disagree; either way, let’s be civil.
This was originally a twitter thread by me, but I decided to publish it as an article.
