The old order is Nigeria’s problem – Ahmed Fahad-Chikaj

 You are just 28 years old, what inspired you to join to the Not Too Young To Run (NTYTR) Movement and also to want to go into politics at such a very tender age?

Looking at the situation in Nigeria, right from time, I begin to understand that there is a problem as the older generation is the one that has been ruling this country over the decades and there had been no changes. As a youth, I think now is the time for me to speak up. Really, all my life, I have been a youth advocate. I think it is high time we the youths should come out and show the world that we are capable; we should come out and represent our people. This is because we know the problems of the youth more because we are part of them.

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What are the new things you are bringing to your people if you are elected as a legislator?

First and foremost, I am looking at women, children, people living with disabilities and the youth. For women, we have high maternal deaths due to lack of good health care facilities. As a lawmaker, I think I can propose a law that would allow for a minimum of three primary health care facilities in each of my wards so that an average woman can have access to good health care. For the youth, unemployment has been the greatest problem. I think the government policy that you must graduate before you get a good job is not a good one. Government should introduce a policy whereby even if you finish from a primary school, there should be a job for you which would keep you going. That would reduce terrorism acts in our society. All these youths that get involved in smoking, political thuggery, rape and other vices, especially in my constituency are doing these due to lack of employment.

Why did you think the government can provide employment for all the citizenry?

It is possible. What I am saying here is that, for example, in my own constituency, Sabongari, we have abandoned factories that can conveniently employ a minimum of 400 youths. Like I said, you don’t have to have a university education to work. Every day, they bring food items and some other goods. We have people that can work but they only need the manpower to upload and offload goods from the trucks and they can be getting their daily pay. So, what I am saying is not as if everybody would get full employment but, at least, almost everybody would have something doing. You don’t have to be employed by the government, but the government should provide means whereby you can go and do something with your own energy. That would make the youth to become engaged. They would not even have the time to be involved in political thuggery and other vices. People living with disabilities are being neglected in our society. I think there is ability in disability because they all have their own talents. The government should encourage and empower them.

The younger elements are seeking to displace the older generation of politicians, believing that they are not functioning well. What do you think you have that puts you in a better stead?

Like I said from the beginning, I know what I have been doing for my community. I am a youth advocate and I have been dealing with my constituents; I know their problems and I have been trying my best to find solutions to these problems. What I am saying is that those people in position of authority now are not living with the masses as they are all living in the state capital.

You are seeking election into a House of Assembly where you only legislate and don’t have access to money. How are you going to do this?

Even the people who are in elective positions now, we are not blaming them for not bringing money. As a legislator, you will be attached to one of the ministries. In each ministry, there will be employment and you will be given a quota where you will be able to employ people from your constituency. You would have the opportunity to influence employment for some of these youths in the other ministries if you are in good terms with the affected commissioners. So, what I am saying in essence is that you can use what you have to get what you want. You don’t have to get money or be rich to help your people but the networking. I have the networks to help people, even beyond Kaduna State. We are more current than those who are occupying public offices now because we are the digital age people.

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