Prince Tonye Princewill, former Rivers State Governorship candidate, and close ally of Rotimi Amaechi, who recently dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said that youths will be making a great mistake if they try to ignore those who have experience in politics thinking they could just grab power.
It was reported that some Nigerian youths, including popular celebrities have vowed to take back the country from the older generation via the forthcoming 2023 polls.
Majority of them who are supporters of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi and popularly called Obidients have been severally accused of violence, particularly on social media while marketing their candidate.
Speaking exclusively with newsmen on the matter, Tonye said the weakness of the youth is in their eagerness to box whoever disagrees with them. He explained that politics is about compromise and dialogue even with one’s opponents.
He said, “That’s where Nigerian youths get it wrong. There is a certain naivety I see in our youth that pains me. We the people hold the power, but our weakness is in our eagerness to box whoever disagrees with us. Politics isn’t like that. It’s about compromise. It’s about give and take. It’s about dialogue. Even with your opponents.
“The youths alone cannot save this country. Many of them have no idea how to tackle youth unemployment, the economy, ethnic mistrust and international foreign policy. But they are the ones most affected by them. The future is theirs and the youths have more to lose.”
Advising the youths on the best approach, Princewill said forming a coalition of the old and young will help the youths to actualize their aspiration to form a better Nigeria.
He said: “That’s why the focus should be on forming and growing a coalition of the old, the new, the young, and whoever they can get to rally around a set of ideals. That’s what is missing. “
Questioning the leadership competence of the youths, Princewill said, “The Leadership of the youths is saying what they want. What are their ideals? No unimpeachable student Union voices anymore which used to be a moral compass. No presence of youths in governments across the country. So limited to my experience. Our youths have been emasculated. Well, now is the time to fight for that voice. Stop perfecting the art of following and start to master the art of leading.
“If you can’t get all the youths in one basket, get youths that are in the baskets of key political candidates and get them to meet and agree on what you all want for your future. Since it’s not the tail that wags the dog, and youths right now are seen as the tail, get the dog to begin to respect its tail.
“There is a strength in numbers and campaigns are the best time to get attention. All you need is candidates to listen to you, not the entire party.”
According to him, most Nigerians are on the same page that the country is being governed in the wrong direction, but the only difference is that the people are not on the same page regarding the best possible solution to the national question.
“Most Nigerians agree that we are not going in the right direction, where they disagree is who can take us there. My point is the solution is not in a person, it’s in a process. But I still hear many youths shouting about individuals. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a team to raise a country. Our answers lie in who amongst them can build a team,” he added.
