A special report by Neusroom
Most political office holders in Africa’s most populous nation see politics not as an opportunity to serve but a gateway to power and influence. An opportunity to get rich and amass as much wealth as possible. They do not want accountability and when the people of the nation, in the most unlikely situation, attempt to demand it, the political class fight back with everything they have including using the very institutions of state like the judiciary, central bank, police, military, and even hooligans.
So on the morning of Tuesday, October 20, 2020, just before the lights at Lekki toll gate were put out and agents of the Nigerian government resorted to violent suppression of peaceful protesters, two Nigerian media platforms Netng and Neusroom, created and distributed a series of polls and quizzes on their digital channels — websites, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages — to feel the pulse of the nation and predict through data, what direction and shape the political leadership of the country could take.
The two platforms, with a combined following of about a million social media followers, and five million website users deployed two categories of quizzes and polls totalling 36 different posts. The first category focused on older candidates, aged 45 years and above, while the other presented younger candidates, many of them millennials and key promoters of the ENDSARS protest.
For two weeks, ending November 1, 2020, Netng and Neusroom explored the leadership choices of young Nigerians, including the office of the President. The polls reached 421,122 people across the different platforms, garnered about 7,000 responses, shared over 3000 times, and accumulated more than 17,000 total engagement.
Here’s what we learnt about the views of young Nigerians on the nation’s political leadership:
The Future Is Female
Unlike the generations before them, young Nigerians are very open to seeing women hold leadership positions. In many of the polls and quizzes, female candidates came tops.
Young Has Grown
Respondents want youth in power, especially those at the forefront of citizen and political advocacy.
A Bridge
A large percentage of the respondents agree on having respectable personalities who can serve as a bridge between the older generation — whom many young people say have failed them — and the younger crop of Nigerians, but who will best fill this role? Pastor Sam Adeyemi and Peter Obi emerged top choices.
Enough Is Enough
A large majority of respondents strongly opposed the idea of any of the present crop of politicians and officeholders retaining power. The respondents also criticized the media platforms for suggesting people over 45 years as potential replacements for the current president.
You Are Not One Of Us
Respondents condemned the older generation candidates presented in the quizzes, especially those in the male category. They stated that the candidates were part of the corrupt system.
EndSARS
The renewed awareness and agitation for good and youth-led governance spurred by the #EndSARS protest appeared to have played a strong role in the choice of the leaders selected. It is expected that the sentiment will continue to grow in this direction.
These Ones Are Not That Bad
While a majority of young Nigerians frowned at the prospect of anyone older than 45 years old holding any public office, they were more favourably disposed to Peter Obi, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and Oby Ezekwesili.
Nigerian youths trust Sam Adeyemi, others to bridge generational gap in politics
On April 19, 2018 Nigerian youths were in a frenzy. President Muhammadu Buhari had implied they were lazy during a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government in London. He made the remark shortly before announcing his run for a second term in office ahead of May 2019.
Nigerians vented their frustration on Twitter with the hashtags #LazyNigerianYouthsand #LazyNigerianPVC. Clearly, their silence was taken for granted and aspirations misunderstood. Long story short? They had no place at the table with the sitting government.
In 2019, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) put Nigeria’s population at 201 million. Nearly 70% of that number are reportedly below age 35. But they have little participation in the nation’s decision-making process. When the youth defied ethnic differences to launch the EndSARS protest in October 2020, their agitation was focused on more than just police brutality. They protested abject poverty, insecurity, poor power supply and spiralling unemployment. Most of all, they kicked against a disconnect with the sitting government and inadequate political participation to actualise the changes they want.
Three months after the Lekki Tollgate massacre, street protests have stopped. But the #EndSARS hashtag continues to trend on Twitter, raising the political consciousness of the youth who await 2023 when they will have another opportunity to vote their preferred leaders into power. Femi Falodun, CEO of ID Africa (owners of Netng and Neusroom), says the protests revealed that digital-savvy young Nigerians truly possess great power to influence and effect social and political change across the country when they organize properly and speak with one voice.
Bridging The Generational Gap
Meanwhile, a recent poll of 7000 youths conducted by Plaqad, a Lagos-based marketing technology company, in partnership with Netng and Neusroom suggests they distrust political leaders above 45. For them, anyone above that age is already too entrenched in corruption to make any meaningful change. However, the two-week poll, conducted across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, shows their mistrust does not include some thought leaders bridging the generational gap, especially older front-liners during the EndSARS protests.
“Beyond the protests and activism, it became apparent that there was the need to investigate and fully understand the nature and type of political leadership that young citizens yearn for. This was what inspired the Neusroom team to produce this report,” Falodun said.
Sam Adeyemi, Peter Obi and Oby Ezekwesili were the top three finalists in answer to the question, “We need a bridge between the old and the young. Who are you picking?” Others on the shortlist were: Stanbic IBTC Founder, Atedo Peterside; Venia Group CEO, Kola Oyeneyin; a former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; Deputy UN Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed and Covenant Nation Senior Pastor, Poju Oyemade.
Sam Adeyemi: Leading From The Front
As a 53-year-old cleric, one might think Sam Adeyemi is past his prime. But he scored 54% of the total votes in the survey. Then again, his advocacy for good leadership precedes the EndSARS movement. One of the Neusroom poll respondents rightly observed that the Daystar pastor “is already in the process and is loved by the youth.”
Maybe so. In October 2017, Adeyemi emphasised that Africa needs good leadership, not charity in a post on the World Economic Forum (WEF) blog. In 2019, he donated N10 million to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for the upkeep of the displaced in Africa, paving the way for civic organisations to follow suit.
In the heat of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, he also donated face masks and other protective gear to the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), pledging to donate food items to the underprivileged in his community. He crowned it all with his selfless leadership and empathy for the youth during the EndSARS protests.
– October 2020: He urged the EndSARS protesters to stay focused on making their voices heard, embrace unconventionality and flexibility
– October 2020: Condemned the Lekki Tollgate shootings, encouraged the youth to refuse to be silenced and continue pushing for their 5 for 5 demands
– November 2020: Advised the youth to strategize and drive a paradigm shift in leadership for 2023
– November 2020: Maintained his position after being sued by activist Kenechukwu Okeke for his role in the protests, said to cause the wanton destruction of properties and livelihoods.
Small wonder Adeyemi won the Future Awards Prize for Service to Young People in November 2020.
Peter Obi: The Quiet Storm
This soft-spoken former Governor of Anambra is the second runner-up on the trust index. Who knows? He may have missed the number one spot over allegations that on his watch, the Awkuzu SARS headquarters became the centre of alleged extrajudicial killings masterminded by CSP James Nwafor. But what cannot be contested is that Obi is a longstanding youth advocate who pledged his allegiance to the EndSARS cause.
– 2006 – 2007: If claims are anything to go by, he was quite frugal with public funds while in office as Anambra State Governor.
– August 2018: Billed to train over 1000 Anambra youths on employability skills.
– February 2020: Observed that Nigeria had been unfaithful to the youth who constitute the largest chunk of the population at the 8th graduation ceremony of Veritas University, Abuja.
– March 2020: Asked the nation to pray for unemployed Nigerian youths on his Twitter handle.
– August 2020: Described the youth as the salvation of Nigeria expected to live up to high standards during the International Youth Day.
– August 2020: Condemned the killing of unarmed youths in Enugu on his Twitter handle.
– October 2020: Hailed the candlelight ceremony organised by EndSARS protesters, saying it was proof they valued their fallen peers.
– October 2020: Was very vocal in his support of the protesters, denouncing the infiltration of their ranks by thugs who destroyed public assets.
– October 2020: Appealed to youths to disband the protest in the Southeast to prevent further hijacking by subversive elements.
Oby Ezekwesili: Diehard Youth Advocate
‘Mama due process’ (as Oby is fondly called) may be 57, but she remains a youth at heart and in action. The Plaqad poll places her third on the trust index, but she is nonetheless a formidable youth advocate dating back to the April 14, 2014 abduction of the Chibok girls by Boko Haram. She spearheaded the #BringBackOurGirls campaign to draw global attention to their plight and urge the Nigerian government to prioritise their rescue.
In 2018 Oby told Neusroom she was running for President because she was on a rescue mission. “For me if I didn’t have the title of a President but get the opportunity to mobilise us to do that work of building a different nation, moving on a different track, I will do it at the drop of a pin.”
– 2006 – 2007: Drove a comprehensive sector reform programme during her tenure as Nigeria’s education minister.
– October 2018: – January 2019: Ran a grassroots political campaign with youth volunteers.
– October 2020: Hailed the setting up of Radio Soro Soke.
– October 2020: Condemned the shootings at the Lekki toll gate. Urged women not to allow the innocent blood of their children to be shed in vain.
– November 2020: Condemned CBN’s freezing of EndSARS protesters’ accounts as undemocratic.
– November 2020: Criticized government’s plan to sanction CNN over coverage of the protests.
– November 2020: Aligned with the EndSARS protesters’ objectives. Asked that they should not be intimidated by the oppressive and repressive acts of the Buhari administration.
As the clock ticks towards 2023, Pastor Sam Adeyemi may just have his work cut out for him. The youth are no longer content to simply fold their arms and watch. They need the trusted older generation to represent their interests in speaking truth to power. From where we sit, Adeyemi is looking like it.
Plaqad poll shows young Nigerians will vote Falz as President
When 30-year-old rapper and activist Folarin Falana, a.k.a Falz, walked the streets of Lekki with hundreds of protesters on the morning of October 8, 2020, little did he know it was a defining moment in contemporary youth activism. Earlier, he had tapped fellow musician Runtown and other celebrities to join him for a peaceful walk against police brutality and extrajudicial killings of innocent youths. What followed was two weeks of high-profile stakeholder engagements, prayer vigils and a stand-down which has increased youthful political consciousness.
While government forces were hatching plans to viciously evacuate the youths from the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020, Neusroom and Netng were evaluating the political redirection inspired by the protests. In partnership with Plaqad, a marketing technology platform, they conducted a two-week poll asking young Nigerians their choice of President for 2023. On the shortlist were: Flying Doctor, Ola Orekunrin; Tech Leader, Iyin Aboyeji; Caya House Founder, Feyikemi Abudu; Rapper Falz; BudgIT Founder, Seun Onigbinde and Social Entrepreneur, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji. With 2,160 impressions and 122 votes across several online platforms, the poll returned Falz as winner with 70% of the votes. Surprising? Maybe not so much.
Crusader for Social Justice
The lawyer-turned-musician is from a family of human rights activists. He is the son of popular lawyers and rights activists Funmi and Femi Falana (SAN), and uses much of his music to advocate for social justice. For instance, in May 2018, he released the single ‘This is Nigeria’ which highlights social issues such as extrajudicial killings, bribery and corruption.
Shortly after the start of the EndSARS movement in October 2020, Legit.ng conducted a Twitter poll asking Nigerians who they would join for a protest amongst Falz, Naira Marley, Burna Boy and Runtown. Unsurprisingly, Falz was preferred for his street smarts and knowledge of the law. This flair for leadership may have swayed the Plaqad poll in his favour.
But…Nigeria’s Next President?
Lest we forget, #EndSARS was partly an agitation for increased youth involvement in national change. The level of organisation and accountability maintained by the protesters was commended by high-profile figures, proof that the youth can indeed assume the mantle of leadership.
Before the protest, #EndSARS was already a hashtag. But it took Falz, and other celebrities and influencers to give life to the entire concept. In a matter of days, #EndSARS became a global movement embraced by Diaspora Nigerians and notable figures such as Hilary Clinton, Joe Biden, Beyonce, Anthony Joshua, Tyler Perry and Drake, among others.
Falz is young, intelligent, articulate and represents a break from the norm.
– He has over 7 million followers on Instagram
– 22.2 million followers on Twitter
– Over 170,000 likes on Facebook
– May 2020: Wrote a letter to the Comptroller-General of Nigeria asking for reinstatement of 5 dismissed female immigration officers over the #Bopdaddy challenge.
– 8 October 2020: Staged a sit-in at the Lagos State House of Assembly, asking for protection of protesters and disbandment of SARS.
– 15 October 2020: Wrote an open letter to President Buhari, seeking an end to police brutality, harassment of citizens and extortion.
– 23 October 2020: Spoke to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour about the #EndSARS protest. Insisted he was not afraid to die because the Nigerian infrastructural system was already a ticking time bomb.
– November 2020: Released the music video to ‘Johnny’ as a tribute to fallen EndSARS protesters.
– November 2020: Sued alongside 50 other high-profile influencers for role in EndSARS protest.
– November 2020: Asked the youth to get voter cards ready for 2023.
How Influential are the Others?
Other candidates who made the Neusroom shortlist are also thought leaders in their spheres. Ola Orekunrin pioneered West Africa’s first air ambulance service. Iyin Aboyeji is one of Africa’s most accomplished tech founders. Toyosi was so preoccupied with the EndSars movement on her Twitter handle that she almost missed marking the International Day of the Girl Child. Feyikemi was one of the prominent female voices during the protest and helped with fundraising, security and medical assistance. Budgit co-founder Onigbinde helped raise civic consciousness about the protest.
How Young is too Young to Run?
National leadership is increasingly leaning towards competence, patriotism, and influence. Not age. Here in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the ‘Not too Young to Run’ bill into law in 2018. The youth now have a shot at the Presidency, thanks to the age reduction from 40 to 30 years. General Yakubu Gowon was, after all, just 31 when he became Head of State. He ruled Nigeria from 1966 to 1975.
Globally, the case is no different:
– Emmanuel Macron (France): Was 39 when he became President, the youngest in French history.
– Kim Jung Un (North Korea): Was 29 when he was declared Supreme Leader of North Korea.
– Tamid bin Hamad Al Thani (Qatar): 31 when he was declared Emir of Qatar.
– Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand): Was sworn in as Prime Minister at 37.
– Joseph Muscat (Malta): Became Prime Minister at 39.
– Carlos Alvarado (Costa Rica): Won elections to become President at 38
– Nayib Bukele (Salvador): Sworn in as President, age 37.
– Oleksiy Goncharuk (Ukraine): Named Prime Minister at 35.
If the Plaqad poll in partnership with Netng and Neusroom is any indication, Nigerians should expect to see unprecedented youth participation in local, state, and federal elections going forward. And the chances of a young citizen making it to Aso Rock will continue to increase.
Experts say 2023 may be too soon. But no one is ruling out the possibility of a disruption. We wait with bated breath for further developments in the runup to 2023. Gbenga Sogbaike, Plaqad CEO, has told us to expect greater participation of young Nigerians in the next general election.
According to Sogbaike, “Young Nigerians recognise the power they have and will deploy it in the coming elections. Would we see a sweeping change? Maybe not. However, I believe Nigerian youths will be more responsive in matters relating to how their public office holders are selected going forward.”
Aisha Yesufu is ‘Most Influential Young Nigerian,’ according to survey of 7000 respondents
“If I’m going to die it will be with my fist high up and my mouth open,” said human rights activist Aisha Yesufu sometime in October 2020. The venue was Abuja. She had defied police harassment and teargassing to lead the EndSARS protesters in demanding for a stop to police brutality.
A few hours later, her photo went viral on Twitter. In the picture, she took the knee with her right fist in the air as a show of strength. Protesters drew inspiration from the iconic photo and many others used it as screensavers. They named it the ‘Nigerian Statue of Liberty.’
“Honestly I don’t even know what to make of that description, I’m humbled and privileged and I don’t take it for granted that people would actually think that picture deserves such a name,” Aisha told Neusroom in a January 2021 interview.
One Woman Riot Squad
Unsurprisingly, the youth reckon with Aisha as the ‘Most Influential Young Nigerian.’ “The fact that Nigerian youths warm up to me, I find that really humbling and a privilege I do not take for granted,” she said.
From October 20 to November 1, 2020, media platforms Netng and Neusroom polled 7000 youths across their websites, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms. They solicited responses to the question ‘who is the most influential young Nigerian right now?’ In the female category of the poll, Aisha won 19% of votes, drawn from a shortlist which includes: Caya House Founder, FK Abudu; Singer, Tiwa Savage; Piggyvest Co-founder, Odun Eweniyi and popular Author, Chimamanda Adichie.
Arguably, the other ladies on the shortlist are also influential and made valuable contributions to the EndSARS protest. Odun Eweniyi was, for instance, part of the feminist coalition that raised $388,000 in two weeks. Chimamanda did a mock redraft of President Buhari’s EndSARS speech and endorsed the protest in a New York Times article. Tiwa Savage drew international attention to EndSARS, urging Beyonce to lend her voice to the effort. FK Abudu helped source funds for medical aid, drinks and toiletries for protesters. So, what really gave Aisha that extra edge?
Her public activism began on April 30, 2014 as co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls movement alongside Aisha Muhammed and Oby Ezekwesili. If at least 107 of the kidnapped Chibok girls have been found as claimed, we have Aisha and partners to thank for their relentless advocacy.
Aisha reveals that “there are quite a number of times that I had gone to protest and I never thought I would come back and this just started in 2014 which was the first time I came out to speak on national issues.”
– August 2019: Won Guardian newspaper’s ‘Voice of Humanity’ award.
– October 2020: Threatened with death by Zainab Abdullahi, a member of the Buhari Support Group.
– October 2020: Spoke with CNN’s Becky Anderson about the ‘horror’ of soldiers shooting at unarmed protesters during the EndSARS protests.
– November 2020: Named among the BBC’s 100 Inspiring and Influential Women around the World 2020.
Rise of Influential Young Women
As the feminist movement gains ground, opinions about women are changing. If Aisha’s influencer status is any indication, Nigerian youths may no longer be averse to having female leaders in positions of authority.
But even more compelling is the fact that Rise Networks CEO, Toyosi Akerele, came tops in another Neusroom poll focused on the choice of female President for 2023. Toyosi garnered 27.4% of the total votes, drawn from the same shortlist that included Aisha as influencer. Except this time, Odun Eweniyi was replaced with Social Media guru, Moe Odele.
Toyosi was not as actively involved in EndSARS as the other ladies on the list. But, it is not surprising that she is the top pick for next female President and not Aisha or the others. She has a track record of political activity, and she spent one year studying for a Master in Public Administration at the Harvard University John F Kennedy School of Government where she also served as Vice President for International Student Affairs and Chair of the International Student Affairs Committee. She’s one of the few publicly-known young Nigerians guaranteed to run for office.
Toyosi Akerele
– Founder and CEO of Rise Networks, a youth-interest social enterprise
– 101 Young African Leaders Award conferred by the African Business Forum
– Alumna, International Visitor Leadership Programme of the US Government
– Described by Michelle Obama as one of her personal inspirations
– Chairperson, the Theophilus Danjuma-led Victim Support Funds (VSF) taskforce on COVID-19 relief response
Milestones in Female Leadership
– Wuraola Esan (Nigeria’s first female Senator 1960 – 1964)
– Margaret Mwuese Icheen (First female speaker of a State House of Assembly in Nigeria 1999-2003)
– Angela Merkel (Chancellor of Germany 2005 – till date).
– Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Former President of Liberia and Africa’s first elected female Head of State 2006-2018).
– Patricia Olubunmi Etteh (First and only female speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives 2007).
– Sheikh Hasina Wajed (Prime Minister, Bangladesh, 2009 – till date).
– Monsurat Sunmonu (First and only female speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly in Nigeria 2011-2015).
– Joyce Hilda Banda (Former President of Malawi April 2012 – May 2014).
– Jumoke Akindele (First female speaker of Ondo House of Assembly, 2014-2017).
– Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (in the running for first female Director-General, World Trade Organisation).
– Erna Solberg (Prime Minister of Norway, 2013 till date).
– Simonetta Sommaruga (President, Swiss Confederation, 2015 and 2020).
– Bidhya Devi Bhandari (President, Nepal, 2015 till date).
– Kersti Kaljulaid (President, Estonia, 2016 till date).
– Tsai Ing-wen (President, Taiwan, 2016 till date).
– Halimah Yacob (President, Singapore, 2017 till date).
– Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand Prime Minister, 2017 till date).
– Katrin Jakobsdottir (Prime Minister, Iceland, 2017 till date).
– Ana Brnabic (Prime Minister, Serbia, 2017 till date).
– Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia’s first female President 2018 – till date).
– Aung San Suu Kyi (Leader, Myanmar).
– Kamala Harris (First female Vice President, USA, 2021-).
The Future
EndSARS street agitations may have come and gone, but FK Abudu, Mr. Macaroni, Falz, Aisha Yesufu and hundreds of others continue to apply pressure on the government to fix Nigeria.
The next few weeks and months will tell whether they will dabble in mainstream politics or use their influence to set the stage for credible young people who will throw their hat in the ring.
