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For young Nigerians, who are preparing to challenge elective positions on the basis of the Non-Current Youth Act, it must be said that age is not necessarily the problem.
Chiagozie Udeh & Oselokah H. Obaze [19659003] Examples of good governance in Africa continue to evolve, albeit slowly. An African country, Ethiopia, has the youngest democratically elected head of state on the continent, who is also one of the 20 youngest state leaders in the world. Africa should be proud. READ ALSO: Ethiopia swears to Abiye as new prime minister amidst ethnic and youth tensions
Over the past 18 months, Africa has experienced 15 leadership changes, averaging about one per month. One of the remarkable transitions was in Ethiopia. His run-up was not perfect, but the end result was remarkable. The evolution of Ethiopia's leadership began with former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who decided to step down in the aftermath of the mbad protests in the streets of Ethiopia and the US. not having succeeded in suppressing insistence despite various drastic measures. In giving up power, he yielded to the voice of reason and democratic dictates.
In withdrawing, Desalegn knew that the gesture had the capacity to create the political and conciliatory space necessary to bring new solutions and stop bleeding. to kill without justification the helpless Ethiopian civilians of the Oromo ethnic population, who would not stop protesting. By resigning, the former prime minister gave Ethiopia a new breath to go forward. In comparative terms, and given the realities of Africa, he deserves credit. After all, when did an African head of state voluntarily resign from his post? Robert Mugabe and Jacob Zuma remain very embarrbading examples.
The release of Desalegn fueled the fires of effective succession planning in the midst of conflict. Inevitably, the question arose, who would replace it? Who would accept the nation, who would have the capacity and the ability to quell the turmoil and rally the nation to reconciliation and healing? The fate fell on Dr. Abiy Ahmed, who was chosen by the governing coalition of the ruling Ethiopian Democratic Revolutionary Front (EPRDF), with 108 of the 180 possible votes. The ruling party in Ethiopia is composed of four ethnic parties, including the People's Democratic People's Organization (OPDO), the Amhara National Democratic Movement (19459013), the People's Democratic Movement of Southern Ethiopia (SEPDM). and the People's Liberation Front of Tigray (TPLF).
Unquestionably, with the emergence of Ahmed, Ethiopia hit proverbial gold and netted four giant birds with a cage. First, Ahmed is from the Oromo ethnic group, which has been at the origin of anti-government protests. The Oromos are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, representing about 34 percent of the country's 100 million inhabitants, but they have never ruled the country. They have repeatedly accused the government of negligence and humiliation. Now their son, who, oddly enough, was the president of the OPDO, is the prime minister. Psychologically, its emergence should solve at least half of the problem, or nothing else will.
Ahmed is a pacifist launched by the conflict. It is also a paradox. In him Ethiopia has its first Muslim Prime Minister who, oddly enough, is from a house with a Muslim father and a Christian mother. Suffice to say that while checking the two boxes, he had always identified with his Muslim roots. This last provision underlines its broad acceptability. But there is more in his good faith.
Ahmed arrived at his new well-educated job and with the required expertise. He was former Minister of Science and Technology under the direction of Desalegn. He has just completed his Ph.D. in Peace and Security at the University of Addis Ababa in 2017 and comes from a military / intelligence background, where he ranked for the last time as a as colonel in the Ethiopian army. To this is added the fact that he speaks fluent English and three Ethiopian languages. With these, you will find sufficient expertise written on it. He possesses the skill and courage that Ethiopia has an immediate need.
Moreover, you have a prime minister with all these skills at 42 years old. He is dynamic, energetic, thinking and the youngest of the continent. He is well equipped to lead an already progressive Ethiopia to the next level. Ethiopians must be beating their bads to defeat such a victory.
Nigeria has a lot to learn if it really wants a solution. Barely in our national history have we been as divided along the ethnic lines as today. There are cases of ethnic cleansing in some states, including Benue, Taraba and Zamfara, under government surveillance, yet the troubling silence of the neighborhoods that should defend justifies the suspicion of conspiracy by Nigerians. Nigeria is not officially at war but the number of deaths recorded by Fulani herders over the last three years is more than enough for most wars. Faced with all this, and with the latest badbadinations in the Plateau State, President Muhammadu Buhari continues to make critics believe that he is unable to find solutions to Nigeria's problems. Even changing cabinet members or appointees who have failed in their responsibilities seems too difficult.
Increasingly, there is pressure for the president to resign, both from those who make sense and those who politicize. However, if the president really cares about Nigeria, he knows the choice to make.
For young Nigerians, who are preparing to challenge elective positions on the basis of the Young Not-So-Young Act, it must be said that this is not necessarily the problem. It's a question of skill and experience. Look Ahmed. He previously served as a minister and ran his own party before becoming prime minister. He was close to power and understood the challenges. Now, his experience is evident in his reforms. He is taking the bold step of limiting the term of office of prime ministers, which was not the case up to now. There is great optimism in Addis Ababa that the good man is in the saddle.
Look at Emmanuel Macron. He served first as a minister, trained and directed his own party with whom he became president. We witnessed his meetings with President Donald Trump a few weeks ago in the United States. He has directed it despite being 32 years younger than Trump. If you really want to take back your country, talk a little about age on Facebook and go to work. Form your group or join those who already exist. Reform them to fit modern ideologies and direct them. Stay really close to power. To fight for the position of Minister of Youth to be yours first. Fight for a percentage of the positions of the National Assembly in your party. Slowly, you will take over.
No one will give you power. There is no free meal anywhere. Being young will never win you an election. There must be a story to your youth that sets you apart, something that clearly defines you and can easily predict what will be the future with you. You must be strategic, young compatriots.
A look at the structure of the Ethiopian party reveals something interesting. In all parties, there are four ethnic / regional parties that form the coalition. The leaders of each party have the chance to become the next prime minister. In the Nigerian context, this should mean that there will be a leader for the northern group in APC, PDP and all other parties, even for Middle Belt, Southeast, South-South and West. . With regional leaders, you already know who is likely to emerge as president and start fighting early if that choice is not going to do any good in the country. This sounds like a good example but it reminds us of one thing, we can not escape the restructuring for Nigeria to become functional.
• Udeh and Obaze are research badociates and CEOs respectively, Selonnes Consult Ltd.
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