Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, one of Nigeria’s past Vice Presidents who served with ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo, is one of the strong contenders in the upcoming Presidential elections under the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. As the elections loom closer and closer, all the candidates try their very best to convince and ensure Nigerians of the sincerity of their promises. For Atiku, this means that he has to convince the youths and women who are the main target of his campaign of his sincerity to run a youth oriented government come 2019 if he is elected.
Atiku’s campaign rests on the foundation of facts gotten from a survey that shows that majority of the electorates voting in this upcoming election are made up of youths and women, two of the most marginalized groups in government. Through his Atikulated Youth Force campaign group aimed at gaining the approval of 40 million youths in Nigeria, Atiku has created a platform for youths to actively participate in his campaign. In addition to this, Atiku has promised Nigerian Youths that 40% of his cabinet positions would be open to them and by this he means people less than 40 years of age. He further went on to promise 30% of the remaining cabinet positions to women and the rest open for the older generation.
HOW ARE YOUTHS RESPONDING TO HIS PROMISES
If there is one thing the youths of Nigeria have had an intimate experience with, it is the promise and fail syndrome of the past leaders. The youths have heard it all from so many other hopefuls and they are yet to see anyone of them make good on their promises. This has bred a lot of apathy in the promises of politicians during the election year. However, Atiku seems to be breaking through that wall of disinterest. According to a poll carried out by Reputation Poll, 57% of Nigerian Youths believe in the future government that Atiku has promised. The favorable way in which Atiku’s campaign is received by the youths might portend a possible victory in 2019.
Nevertheless, a good 43% of the youths are not yet convinced that Atiku would make good on his promises. All that is left is to wait, vote and see who emerges winner. However, if Atiku wins and follows through with a youth oriented government, a positive revolution would have begun.
