PDP Stalwart Says Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill Discriminates Against the Youth
The Vice Chairman North East zone of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Amb. Emmanuel Njiwah, has kicked against the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill which is awaiting presidential assent, describing it as unnecessary and discriminatory.
In an exclusive interview with our Correspondent, Njiwah stated that the youth had the advantage by virtue of their number and could emancipate themselves if they wished without the backing of any law.
“Every Nigerian that has reached the age of voting should be allowed to contest. I feel the Bill is unnecessary, it discriminates against the youth. The President of France is 39 and there is no Law for young men to run for presidency in France. The youths are free and the majority, they should vote themselves irrespective of any law“, he posited.
Njiwah who contested for the presidency position during the botched third republic at age 42, pointed out that the challenge the youths would have to overcome if eventually they got to power was in the area of decision making.
He regretted the attitude of the youth towards nowadays politics and therefore advised them to pursue positive values.
“The younger ones go for money. If you don’t make it, they will laugh at you but for us, we went for people and I think it stopped with my generation because the younger ones today go for money. I ran for governorship and never had any godfather.
“I never went for any body’s money and I have made impact. For those coming behind me, I pray they take the path of sincerity, honesty, patience and they should be able to pursue exactly what they can do and the society will be able to identify them in their various exploits and locate them effectively”, he advised.