Former President
Olusegun Obasanjo has advised African youths to come together and use their
electoral power to kick out the older generation from all leadership positions.
Speaking at an
interactive session held virtually to mark this year’s International Youth Day
on Wednesday, August 12, the former President said unless old people are forced
out of the political stage, they will continue to occupy the leadership
positions which is a disservice to the youths in Africa.
“Unless you squeeze
out those who are in office and those who want to remain in office perpetually,
some after the age of 80, unless you squeeze them out, they will not want to be
out.
The type of change I
am talking about, that I believe we can all embark upon is to subscribe to the
constitution of political parties in favour of youths or if you like it you
call it affirmative action in favour of youths.
For instance, if you
say, in the constitution of a political party, not less than 50 per cent of
those who hold executive office within the party will be less than 40 years.
You can even go
beyond that and say that people who will be put up for election, not
less than 50 per cent of them will be less than 40 years of age. That’s
affirmative action. That’s positive discrimination in favour of youths.'' he
said
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