You need to squeeze out old people from public offices – Olusegun Obasanjo advises young people in commemoration of the International Youth Day!
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo has advised young people to drive out old politicians who want to remain in power forever out of office. .
He said until they do that, young people won’t have the opportunity to hold public offices or even achieve their political or leadership aspirations in the country.
Olusegun Obasanjo said this during a virtual interactive session organised by the Youth Development Center- an arm of his public library at Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta
Participants include young people people within the country, Mali, United States, Kenya and South Africa, The Nation reports
In his words;
“Unless you squeeze out those who are in office and those who want to remain in office perpetually, some after the age of 80, 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 into the constitution of political parties in favour of youth. 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 of age.”
“You’re just making sure that people that are 40 years of age will hold 50 per cent of executive office within the political party.”
“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.”
“I am saying this because if you leave it entirely for people to do it for you, nobody will do it for you. You have to do it for yourself.”
