Naira Marley as President: How social influencers fall short in politics & leadership
Nigerian youths need to start looking beyond protests to achieve the change they desire.
It’s the #EndSARS memorial.
One year after the brutal opening of fire on peaceful, unarmed protesters, one year after series of denial and gaslighting by the guilty government and sinful security agencies. There is no excusing such act and we will not forget, no matter the contradictions the minions of the government put up to insult people’s intelligence.
But if any proof was needed that protests alone cannot cut it, it was provided yesterday, during the memorial. The assault of protesting youths continued in a manner that has become familiar, with little change to the status quo.
And it throws up the million-dollar question, what is the way forward?
This movement is a youth-centred one. Therefore, whatever the way forward will be, it should explore the strengths of the energetic and bubbling young citizens. And one thing that makes this generation peerless is the sheer influence it wields through entertainment and social media.
Afrobeats is a movement championed by youths. Even the legendary 2baba is still in his 40s. Olamide, Davido, Wiz, Burna, Yemi, Simi, AG, CKay are in their 20s and early 30s. If we go down to the likes of Omay Lay, Bella, Fireboy, Buju, Tems, Rema, then we have early-mid 20s.
The world of entertainment is bigger than music, of course. Big Brother influencers, on-air personalities, social media principalities all hold sway on the teeming youth population which makes up roughly 70% of the nation’s citizenry.
Yet, with the long line of superstars and influencers, it appears they can only be juggernauts for brands. Nothing more.
Are there hopes of better leaders rising within their ranks? It’s highly doubtable. We see the petty fights, recklessness, extravagance, partiality and immaturity that emanate from among them. And it is difficult to see how these ones would be better than our current set of leaders. I mean, imagine Naira Marley as president, with his retinue of unclad ladies and bundles of weed.
Undoubtedly, social media encourage illicit, irresponsible acts but leadership is the very antithesis. Frivolities can’t be used to lead a nation. And right now, Nigeria desperately needs a LEADER, in every sense of the word.
But where will it come from?
Our influencers need to start seeing the bigger picture. #TwitterBan is a microcosm, of things to come and the fate that may befall everything that still looks rosy at the moment.
I thought you wanted Naira Marley as the president when I read the headline.😌 That even attracted me to read it.
That's true.😌 We can't have celebrities whose sole concern is MONEY. With what most of them put up on internet, who'll vote them? I doubt they have leadership qualities.