We are young but not too young to run - Nigerian youths rally for political inclusion (photos)
- The #NotTooYoungToRun rally is gaining momentum across the nation
- Rallies have been conducted nationwide to drive the campaign
- Many youths are joining the train
On Thursday, March 30, the #NotTooYoungToRun National Day of Action rally unfolded across ten states in the country.
Legit.ng gathered that over ten thousand young people, adorned in white t-shirts with the inscription, “I support #NotTooYoungToRun”, called on their state legislators to support the bill seeking to reduce the constitutional age for running for office.
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The general message was simple but clear: it cannot be democracy when over 60% of the population cannot fully participate in the process.
In Maiduguri, Borno state, over 5,000 young people defied security threats to solicit support for the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign.
This large turnout of people in a state which only a few years ago, was a killing field for the dreaded Boko Haram sect proved that there is no stopping an idea whose time has come.
The Borno state #NotTooYoungToRun campaign co-ordinator, Ambassador Bolori Ahmed said: “Indeed the youths of Borno have made history. This rally is the first of its kind. It is not common to have people march peacefully to a designated place to make their voices heard to the constituted authorities.
“I have every reason to be happy and I thank God that I am a part of this historic event in my state. Congratulations to everyone who was part of this history today”.
In Kebbi, about 400 people gathered in Gwandangaji roundabout, Birnin Kebbi, as early as 8 am for the march to the State House of Assembly.
The group was received by the speaker of the house, Honourable Abdulmumini Kamba, who assured the youths that the Kebbi state House of Assembly will unanimously support the bill for the collective development of the state and Nigeria in general.
He said he will use his position as the chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Speakers to canvass support for the bill.
The morning rain in Port Harcourt couldn’t stop the #NotTooYoungToRun rally in the oil rich state. In his statement, the speaker of the Rivers state House of Assembly, Honourable Ikuinyi O. Ibani threw his full weight behind the campaign, saying the bill will be passed into law once it gets to the State Assembly.
The story was not different in Katsina state. Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Abubakar Yahaya Kusada, assured the group of his full support for the campaign.
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His words: “80% of the members of the Assembly fall within the age of 30 to 40. So, whenever the #NotTooYoungToRun bill comes, we will give it speedy passage so that our youths can fully benefit from it”.
Similarly, big crowds turned out in Sokoto, Kano, Cross River, Enugu, Osun and Bauchi. The marchers peacefully engaged with and secured the commitment of the leadership of the state Houses of Assembly to pass the #NotTooYoungToRun bill once the National Assembly transmits the Constitution Alteration Act to them for action.
In all the rallies, participants demanded that young people be given the constitutional right to fully participate in democratic processes, as it is a human right and not a privilege.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently sampled opinions of Nigerians concerning the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Watch the video below:
Source: Legit.ng
