BY EDITOR
As Nigeria inches toward another pivotal general election, a loud and urgent call is emerging from the Labour Party (LP): it's time for a generational power shift.
Dr. Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, an LP chieftain and former National Assembly candidate, has boldly urged President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to abandon any ambitions for 2027 and instead become statesmen who support the nation's democratic maturity.
In a press briefing held in Abuja on Sunday, Ezeh laid bare what he described as the growing public anxiety over the continued grip of Nigeria’s "old warhorses" on power warning that their ambitions are not only outdated but dangerous to national unity.
“Nigeria is already deeply divided along ethnic and regional lines, and the ambitions of Tinubu and Atiku are inflaming that reality rather than healing it,” Ezeh said.
Ezeh’s remarks touched on a larger, troubling trend in Nigerian politics — the recycling of leadership. His appeal is not merely about age; it is a critique of a political culture that resists transition and renews old rivalries with each electoral cycle.
According to Ezeh, the symbolism of Tinubu’s “Emi Lokan” declaration and Atiku’s multiple bids for the presidency reflects an elite sense of entitlement, not national service.
“They see leadership as inheritance, not responsibility. Nigeria’s youth are being pushed to the margins while recycled leaders fight over old battles,” he said.
In this interpretation, Nigeria's political space is held hostage by personalities, not institutions, and the costs are steep — deepening polarization, eroded trust in the democratic process, and stalled progress on vital national issues.
The crux of Ezeh’s argument lies in the generational frustration building among Nigeria’s youth, who make up over 60% of the population. For many, politics has become a theatre for the ambitions of aging elites, rather than a platform for fresh ideas, accountability, and inclusion.
“Every election becomes a rerun of old rivalries. Where does that leave the future?” one university student in Abuja asked in reaction to the LP chieftain’s comments.
Ezeh warned that unless the older generation steps aside voluntarily, Nigeria risks deepening the disconnect between government and its citizens.
“The 2027 elections must not become another political tug-of-war between Tinubu and Atiku. Nigerians are exhausted. We need a new narrative,” he stressed.
Ezeh’s warnings came amid swirling rumors that Atiku may contest under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a move he claims could fracture the emerging opposition coalition and make Tinubu’s reelection bid more likely. He also criticized Southern politicians allegedly pushing Atiku forward, calling it a selfish and short-sighted alliance.
Interestingly, Ezeh expressed optimism in the ADC’s growing momentum, especially after former Kaduna governor, Nasir El-Rufai, controversially suggested that the presidency should remain in the South until 2031. That remark, Ezeh argued, validates calls for regional balance and a more inclusive political order.
Ultimately, Ezeh's message is clear: for Nigeria’s democracy to evolve, its leaders must put legacy over ambition.
“Tinubu and Atiku should set an example by retiring voluntarily. They can become kingmakers instead of contestants,” he said.
With rising public disillusionment, increasing youth activism, and a growing hunger for accountable governance, the coming months may well determine whether Nigeria charts a new political course or remains locked in the cycle of the past.
