Beginning with myself, I have been a youth for 13 years now. Becoming 31 years old in August this year, I have remained with 14 years to exit youthhood. What is it that I have done in my youthhood? I have done almost nothing.
The little thing I have done to the best of everyone is the instillation of hope in youth that one day, they will get the throne. Working towards getting the throne myself, how adequately trained am I to hold the throne? I have not adequately been trained. What I have acquired is self-training. I have no manpower to train myself as adequately as the throne requires.
Supposed to be abundantly trained by the leader of today, but he is too jealous of me. When I look up to my elder youth to train me, he is too selfish to prepare his successor. But this does not deprive me of my hope for the throne. I have the potential to lead as a youth despite being suppressed.
Generally, the atmosphere of youth in Africa is too foggy to allow them to aspire for leadership. The leaders in power are too greedy to rule for life. This greediness does not allow them give youth an opportunity to lead as young people with young ideas. The only youth they train and give an opportunity are their own children and their children’s closest cohorts.
This divides youth into two; youth being prepared by the incumbents to take over and youth preparing themselves to take over. Much of the youth’s time is consumed by this division as youth face one another in the fight for the throne. This gives the incumbents an abnormal time to stay in power.
Despite the incumbent having a prepared candidate, Bassirou Faye never gave up chasing his leadership dream. Being feared of, he was harassed and taken to prison in an attempt to reduce him to zero. But that was too late.
When he was released, together with other candidates, they were screened and one of the people’s favourite candidates was screened out. Having made it to the list of qualified candidates, the nullified candidate convinced his supporters to vote in favour of Bassirou Faye. Bassirou Faye, a 44-year-old, won the elections and became the youngest president in Africa to be elected democratically.
What does his victory against all odds tell youth in Africa, in general, and South Sudan, in particular? It tells youth that there is always resistance in taking over power even in one’s own house with a father. But this cannot terrify one to surrender and live life without seeing him/herself in the decisions being made. Youth should get inspired by Bassirou’s winning despite being suppressed to get a chance to lead.
Youth should see their unity as paramount and begin to push youth who have shown interest in getting power. The culture of who is who, which tribe he hails from, from which political affiliation, any big politician behind him, does he have money, how many stars does he have in the army and all other useless stuff should be deleted from the people’s minds. It is time for academic qualifications and competence, the rest are old stories.
The tomorrow that has been sung as a song all along has finally come. If not now, then when? This dawn is for youth. It is entirely theirs. The activities of the day can no longer be fulfilled by elders. This means, elders should occupy the back row and allow youth to take the front row.
Thanks for “Sowing The Seed Of Truth”.