“Will a young, progressive Nigerian ever hold a high-ranking public position?” Over the last few decades, young Nigerians have posed this question and received no positive response. The #EndSars campaign came with a lot of intentionalities and drive towards political socialization among young Nigerians, and that felt like the light at the end of the tunnel because it’s always been young Nigerians saying what they want to do politically but never doing it, but #EndSars came with more heat in 2020.
Fast forward to 2022, and it appears that the anti-corruption and anti-brutality campaign’s fire has died out, because, at a time when young Nigerians should be screaming for real change, they appear to have forgotten the grievances and resolutions from October 2020. Many of us have given up because “Are there genuine political candidates in Nigeria?” at a time when we should be empowering ourselves and fighting against forces that have oppressed us for years.
This is the most significant roadblock because everyone is looking for that Superhero Presidential or Gubernatorial candidate, which is admirable but almost unrealistic because we are up against a long-standing system that is best addressed from within, which is where credible candidates like Jude Feranmi Kolawole come into play.
“THIS IS WHY I AM ANNOUNCING MY CANDIDACY FOR A SEAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTIONS TO REPRESENT THE GREATEST PEOPLE OF IJESHA SOUTH FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY,” JFK states in his official statement. I’m running to be a voice for young people in the tech ecosystem, the creative industry, and the civic sphere, demanding smart policies, excellent governance, and a dedication to strong democratic ideals.”
As the elections approach, JFK provides a timely response to the many questions raised by many young Nigerians, and while he may lack the financial resources to compete with the most well-known names, he does have an audience with enough social currency to make a substantial statement on behalf of the country’s youth.