I Will Vote For a Youthocrat - Tunde Eso

Tunde Eso, was 2018 Osun State governorship aspirant under Peoples 

Democratic Party, he is founder of Youthocracy, a new system of government; 

president of Fix Nigeria Group, author of Vision for Africa and African Security 

Solution. He is a media, mining and project management consultant. He talks about his 

experience in the just concluded primaries in Osun State and his plans for future 

elections. 

Can you tell us what your experience has being as the youngest candidate in 

the 2018 Osun State governorship bid under the umbrella of Peoples 

Democratic Party?

I'm grateful to God for granting me wisdom and strength to be able to participate. 

It's wasn't easy for me in the midst of many gerontocrats (old democrats). Politics 

in Nigeria is still very immature because the old brigades who have been there for 

decades see the youths as ordinary citizens especially when you don't have enough 

money to throw around. The present Nigerian style of politics makes mockery of 

any aspiring politician if you don't have enough money to throw around. No one 

appreciates or reckons with any politician who does not have a big pocket. When I 

made my intention known to contest for Osun State governorship election, nobody 

believed or gave me a chance. Their main emphasis was the fact that I don't have 

billions of naira to throw around despite the brilliant proposal I presented. So I 

believe we still have a long way to go in this country in our political disposition.

We noticed that you did not make it to the primaries. What must have been 

responsible for that?

I couldn't make it because there was no provision for young contestants or those 

who can lead our state intelligently. You can imagine a situation why the 

nomination form was sold for N9 million. I learnt the second runner-up to Senator 

Ademola Adeleke spent about N10 billion in less than two months that he  fully 

joined the race; so how much do you think the winner would have spent? I will not be surprised when the eventual winner gets to office and becomes a demi-god in 

order to be able to recoup the funds he has invested to get to the position. Even in 

my little way, I spent millions of naira in terms of logistics and other expenses. 

Nobody wants to see your beautiful face if you don't have money to spend. We 

just have to change politics of moneybags if we really want the right people at the 

helm of affairs in this country. That is the truth.

What propelled your clamour for youthocracy instead of ensuring that 

democratic principles work in Nigeria?

The term 'democracy' has been abused by those who feel they are specialists in the 

art of governance especially by those who have been recycled over the years to 

rule us. They have refused to nurture the young ones who should take over when 

they are gone. Unfortunately they believe the wisdom to rule our country only 

belongs to them. Contemporary issues on democratic governance make no 

meaning to them and they keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. 

Bringing the youths into governance has no place in their hearts. Therefore youths 

have to take their destiny in their hands if they want to be relevant in Nigerian 

politics. Hence, there is a need for youths to identify with another system of 

government that will be all-inclusive and that was why the concept of Youthocracy 

came about in 2013. It is defined as government of the people, by the youth and for 

the people. That was why I wrote the book Vision for Africa. You can get copy 

online. Before now, we used to have hand fans; later standing fans came into our 

homes; ceiling fans followed; right now we have automatic air conditioners. You can see the gradual improvement in the technology of creating a means to make us 

comfortable when we experience heat. Therefore I do not think it is wrong if we 

modify our democratic principles that will give the youth a space to participate in governance. So, Youthocracy is here to take over from democracy. 

Now that you are no longer in the race, what next? 

I stand on Youthocracy and I maintain that I will only vote for a young aspirant in 

this election who is credible. People have been asking to know my next plan since I didn't pick the governorship ticket of another party though there is no party in 

Osun State that didn't approach me to run under their umbrella. I had to stand on 

the advice of Osun State PDP state party chairman, Hon. Soji Adagunodo even 

though I'm not too happy with his body language towards youth inclusion in politics lately. I'm a youthocrat, hence I will stand on my principles. The old ones think they can do it without us; let's wait and see. If they get it right this time, I can assure them that it will be the last time of their rule in this country.

What is your advice to other young aspirants in Africa?

My advice is to encourage them to vote for younger aspirants who are credible. My 

vote will always be for a youthocrat. I stand with the youths anywhere and 

anytime as the founder of youthocracy. If the old ones need us, they must reckon 

with us. The youths are alive in Africa, so we are not going back on entrenching 

youthocracy and its principles in our political space.