'Squeeze older generation out of office' - Obasanjo advises African youths

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised African youths to take over leadership positions from the older generation. He said leadership positions would not come to the youths until they “squeeze older generation out of office,” reports The Nation.

“Unless you squeeze out those who are in office and those who want to remain in office perpetually, some after the age of 80, they will not want to be out.

“The type of change I am talking about, that I believe we can all embark upon, is to subscribe into the constitution of political parties in favour of youth. Or if you like it, you call it affirmative action in favour of youths," he said.

Obasanjo made the remark on Wednesday, August 12, during a virtual interactive session with youths to mark the 2020 International Youth Day.

Obasanjo also advised the youths to demand that affirmative action is encapsulated in the constitution of political parties, as part of strategies to ease out the old generation of leaders.

The program was organised by the Youth Development Centre, an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Participants of the meeting cut across Nigeria, Mali, United States, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.

The former president reiterated that no one will wrestle power for the youths if they don't do it themselves.