118 Youth Groups Upbraid Buhari Over Ministerial List

President Buhari’s ministerial list was strongly criticized last week by several youth groups across the country who stated that Buhari’s list did not reflect youth representation in any way. Groups such as the Young African Voices for Peace Initiative, Connected Development and Our Vision Nigeria all expressed their disappointment after having waited for six months for the nominees to be handed over to the Senate.

According to Shola Oyeyipo, a writer for This Day, one of the youth groups stated:

“We are shocked that the present ministerial nominees have no single representation of young people who were born in the 70’s or the 80’s. We did not expect that President Buhari’s list of 21 ministers, which came after six months wait, will not have a single youth’s name on it, especially when he (Buhari) was the Federal Commissioner-the equivalent of a minister today-for Petroleum and Natural Resources in 1976 at the age of 34. Curiously, the president seeks to retain the portfolio 39 years after. We hold no grudge against him for this decision as long as Nigeria is better for it. We assumed that the long wait for the list was also part of the president’s search for capable hands. Our definition of youth is in tandem with that which is provided by the African Youth Charter ratified by the African Union Heads of State and Government, which numerically classifies them as those between the age of 15 and 35. The presidency’s seeming dismissal to this demography, especially given the roles several of them played towards the actualisation of him and his party’s political dream of getting into office through democratic means. The president’s body language and leadership in this regard does not mean well especially because state governments will quickly learn from this and also shut out young people from representative governance in the states. Beyond the ministerial list, we are also quick to note that there has not been anybody below the age of 35 appointed to be part of the president’s team, whereas there are evidences that show Nigeria parades some of the finest youth on the continent who can hold their own anywhere in the world. We are forced to ask-is it that the country’s investment in young people is just a routine process and our country’s leadership does not believe in the capacity of this demography to lead? [Considering that constitutionally, the president is obliged to appoint 36 ministers] we hope this mistake will be corrected, and quickly.”

Many also criticised the fact that only 14% of Buhari’s ministers are women, in a country where over half of the population is female. It has been suggested that the presidency can choose to correct this issue by appointing young women into the Federal Executive Council, which will serve dual purpose. The lack of women and youth civic engagement in politics and public life is a worrying issue in Nigeria, considering the fact that several decisions are made on behalf of the two groups and it should be a case of these groups having a large say. However, it has become evident that unless women and youths do not stand up for themselves, the Nigerian government will continue to be influenced by a male majority and patriarchy will never be eradicated.

It has further been brought to ones attention through the media that 64% of Rwanda’s Parliament are women and Rwanda has the most efficient government in Africa and the seventh most efficient in the world. Food for thought? What are your views?