Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on young Nigerians to hold their elected leaders to higher standards of governance, insisting that asking hard questions and demanding a better life is an act of deep patriotism rather than disillusionment.
In an Independence Day message commemorating the nation’s 66th anniversary on Thursday, Saraki drew a sharp contrast between generations. For those who endured decades of military juntas, the return of democracy in 1999 was an undeniable milestone where simply possessing the right to vote felt like a hard-won victory. Yet, as he observed, that historic sentiment holds little practical comfort for younger citizens who have only ever known civil rule. For this rising generation, the true value of democracy is measured not by historical nostalgia, but by whether the system actually delivers tangible improvements in everyday life.
Saraki pointed to the persistent uncertainties hanging over young people across the country, from university students stranded by disrupted academic calendars to graduates battling an unforgiving job market and families grappling with insecure highways. Young Nigerians, he noted, are constantly confronted with questions about whether they can finish school on time, secure honest work, travel without fear, or whether they must abandon their homeland entirely just to access a decent future.
Rejecting the idea that such frustrations signal a loss of faith in Nigeria, the former lawmaker argued that public office holders, both past and present, including himself, owe young citizens candid, workable answers rather than deflections. He stressed that seeing immense talent forced to struggle for the bare minimum justifies intense scrutiny, noting that loving one’s country often means refusing to accept anything less than what it is capable of becoming.
Saraki urged youth across the country to channel these grievances directly into the political process. He challenged them to let their expectations dictate how they vote, to interrogate candidates on concrete solutions rather than empty promises, and crucially, to stay politically engaged and vigilant long after ballot papers have been counted.
The milestone anniversary, he concluded, should serve as a collective wake-up call for political leaders to confront what the country owes its youth and ensure their aspirations can finally take root at home.
Post a Comment