Obasanjo: African youth are a ticking time bomb

Former Nigeria President, Olusegun Obasanjo, at a past function. [Reuters]

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned African governments against the continued neglect of their youthful majority, likening the situation to a ticking time bomb.

According to Obasanjo, African youth are a hopeless, disempowered, and dejected group demanding change, as evidenced by recent anti-government protests, such as the Gen Z uprising in Kenya.

He cautions that similar protests could soon erupt across the continent if the issues affecting young people are not addressed.

“We’ve sounded a warning about this. All over Africa, we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder. There is no country in Africa where the youth are not angry,” he said while speaking to Citizen TV on Wednesday.

“This is the beginning. If no adequate attention is paid to the needs of the youth in Africa, the autumn will turn to winter. It will be very ugly for all of us.”

Obasanjo, often considered a senior elder and continental statesman, was in Kenya to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Pan African Youth Convention held at the Kenya School of Government.

His speech focused on how the continent can trigger an economic transformation by addressing its debt challenges as leaders push for reforms in the global financial infrastructure, which seems skewed against African borrowers.

In his home country, Nigeria, a 10-day standoff between the youth and the government is anticipated, starting on August 1, largely inspired by the Kenyan street demonstrations that led to several concessions from President William Ruto.