Former President Olusegun Obasanjo told young Africans to act now if they wish to lead the continent. He spoke at the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat (6.0), held by the Youth Development Centre at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. The event, themed “Africa and the Conflicts in Europe and the Middle East”, drew youths from Nigeria and other African countries.
Obasanjo warned against long-serving leaders who refuse to make way for younger people. He told the audience, “You are leaders of today because if you leave tomorrow in the hands of leaders who are there today, they will destroy it, you won’t have your tomorrow. You can see that happening almost everywhere.”
He used recent events as examples, asking why youth voices are missing in some countries. “Cameroon just had an election. My brother, Paul Biya is 92. So, what are you going to do with the youths, or are there no youths in Cameroon?”
On Nigeria, he noted the gap between law and practice and urged bold action by young people. “Here (referring to Nigeria), we have NotTooYoungToRun and they even made it into law. Those who made it into law are 80 years old and they are still running. When will you have the opportunity to run? Like I said to you yesterday, you have to be positively disruptive and I mean that.”
He explained what he meant by disruption, using a simple image to make his point. “Look, if three people are sitting and two of them start to press the one in the middle, when it becomes uncomfortable for him, it is either he yields the space or allows them to share. You have to be positively disruptive; otherwise, you will have no role to play.”
Obasanjo urged young people to use their large numbers to gain influence. “You have the number, but the number will only matter when you use the number to your advantage,” he said.
At the same time, he warned that some young officials have not yet earned full trust. He said some youths in government have “not proven that youths can be absolutely trusted.”
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