The Convener/National Coordinator of the Not Too Young To Perform (NTYTP), a leadership development advocacy group, Comrade James Ezema, has charged Nigerian youths to continue on the path of hardwork as it is possible for them to take over leadership of the country.
Ezema, who met some members of the Kogi State executive of the group in the company of the Interim National Secretary, Mallam Bello Muhammed, also urged more youths to join politics.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital on Saturday, the national leader of the group said politics is not as difficult as it seems if young people can come together and form a formidable force.
Ezema who told Nigerian youths that lack of money is not their greatest challenge in politics, said once the younger generation of people can come together, money will not be a major barrier for venturing into elective offices, even the presidency.
His words: “Our comrades and younger people across the country must realise that money is not their greatest hindrance if they want to join politics. What can stop them is lack of unity and requisite commitment to the course of raising younger generations of leaders across the country in line with the NTYTP strategic masterplan.
“We have what it takes to change Nigeria for good but nobody among the older generation of leaders will voluntarily leave the political space for the youths. It is left for the youths to unite, get committed to the power game and wrestle political power from our fathers, mothers, and grandparents who currently dominate the Nigerian political space.”
Urging lovers of youth participation in politics to support younger people in their quest to change Nigeria, Comrade Ezema said: “There are many Nigerians who want to support the youths in their quest for political leadership but they first want to see how committed we are before they can come in to support us.”
Also speaking, the Interim National Secretary, Muhammed, while reacting to questions on who the group is supporting ahead of the 2023 presidential election, said: “Obviously we are for a youth president irrespective of his or her political party. We don’t have a candidate yet but we are open minded and when we get to the bridge we will cross it.
But for now, we are not in talks with any aspirant. “In NTYTP, we’ll not support any aspirant who is above the retirement age of 65 years. Besides that, we are open for a capable aspirant who has performance in office as his or her primary reason to run for any elective office.”
