The Not-Too-Young-To-Run movement recently achieved its age long dream of reducing the age for running for elective offices for young men and women in politics. The bill which was assented to by President Buhari reduced the age to run for the office of the president from 40 to 35 years. While the age to run for the House of Representatives and State House of Assembly was reduced to 25 years, Senator and governorship age remained at 30 years.
This development generated wide reactions from all quarters. While some were excited and lauded President Buhari for the move, others were sceptical of Buhari’s motives for assenting to the bill, connecting it to his second term aspiration. Others also expressed concerns as to whether young people have the financial muscle to run for government positions.
“It is done! The Not Too Young To Run Bill has just been signed into law by Buhari! Congratulations to young people across the country, and across the continent! There’s nothing we can’t achieve when we put in the work and use our numbers! History’s been made! New Narratives in 2019.”
-Chioma Agwuegbo, Founder Tech Her Nigeria.
“Great job, to all you great young Nigerians that coalesced to achieve the NotTooYoungToRun Act. You just made history and now, know that you have all the power to birth the new Nigeria of our dream. Kudos to the Nigerian National Assembly for passing the Bill! Kudos to the Nigerian President for assent!”
-Oby Ezekwesili, Convener of the Bring Back Our Girls group, BBOG.
“On the same day that the allegedly 75 year old Buhari signed the NotTooYoungToRun Bill, it was announced that his party, APC, picked a 74 year old to be its deputy Governor candidate for the July 14 Ekiti guber election. Youths of Nigeria, can’t you see they are just using you?”
-Reno Omokri, Author, and ardent critic of Aso Rock.
“The real achievement of the NotTooYoungToRun Act is not the lowering of age limits or even the chances of increased participation. Those may not make much difference in the short term. It is that change is possible in Nigeria when the youth come together & demand it. That’s BIG!”
– Joe Abah, Nigeria Country Director, Development Alternatives Incorporated, DAI.
“I welcome the signing of the NotTooYoungToRun bill into law. I also congratulate Tony Nwulu who sponsored the bill. Importantly, today’s milestone is proof of the resilience and intrinsic hardworking nature of the everyday Nigerian youth who worked to make this a success”.
– Atiku Abubakar, Ex Vice President of Nigeria.
“As young people across the country bask in the moment and celebrate the signing of the NotTooYoungToRun Bill into law, they must not see this as the final bus stop on this journey. It is one thing to be able to run, but, it is another thing entirely to be able to serve. This nation needs the energy and innovation of our young people. Hence, the next phase of NotTooYoungToRun must be young people registering to vote, collecting their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, running for office and/or working to get their peers elected into both legislative and executive offices.”
-Toyin Saraki, Healthcare Philanthropist and the Founder of Wellbeing Foundation Africa.
“It’s high time the young ones took over. But I just hope the price tag for the post of the president won’t be outrageously high.”
-Valentine Okafor, Inspirational Speaker and Social Entrepreneur.
“I congratulate all Nigerian youths on the signage of the NotTooYoungToRun bill. However, you all will soon find out that the electoral and political process has been completely monetized. 98% of Youths cannot afford to successfully run an electoral campaign!”
– Tomide Akinribido, House of Assembly aspirant, Ondo West Constituency.
“The least amount a party nomination form is sold is N5m. Please how will a 30 years old get the money to fund his campaign, in this our political system where campaign depends largely on money. Now we can run, how possible is it to win. Our problem is more than NotTooYoungToRun”.
-San Romeo, Idustrial Chemist
Desmond Okon
